Ambassador: Nord Stream problems may escalate to full suspension

ST. PETERSBURG, Jun 16 (PRIME) – Further turbine repairing problems at the Nord Stream may stop pumping that will mean a catastrophe for Germany, Russian ambassador to the E.U. Vladimir Chizhov told PRIME on Thursday on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

“Regarding Nord Stream 1, we should ask Siemens why they had to send the turbines for repairs to Canada. When all these turbines go to Canada for repairs, the pipeline may stop, and I think it would be a catastrophe for Germany,” he said.

“I would not like to give advice, but they could have learned to repair the pipelines themselves.”

On Tuesday, Gazprom said that could only pump up to 100 million cubic meters of gas per day through the Nord Stream pipeline, while the plan is 167 million cubic meters because of equipment troubles at the Portovaya compressor station. The station can only use three pumping units because of delays in the work of Siemens.

Bloomberg reported quoting sources that the anti-Russian sanctions made the key equipment for functioning of the pipeline stuck in Canada. The second turbine, which is to undergo maintenance, cannot be shipped overseas, and Siemens confirmed that it was unable to receive the turbine from Canada after repairs due to the anti-Russian sanctions, and was working on solution of the problem.

End