The Yamal-Europe pipeline continues to transport Russian gas to Poland

The Yamal-Europe pipeline, which typically sends Russian gas west to Europe, leaked east from Germany to Poland for the 26th consecutive day on Saturday, according to data from German network operator Gascade.

According to Reuters, since December 21, the connection between Poland and Germany has been operating in reverse, exerting upward pressure on European gas prices.

The pipeline typically accounts for about one-sixth of Russia’s annual gas exports to Europe and Turkey.

On Friday, preliminary bids for the east-west gas pipeline from Germany to Poland via the pipeline on Saturday morning fell sharply to 1.5 million kilowatt-hours (kWh / h).

However, the actual reverse currents observed on Saturday remained close to the volumes of about 7 million kWh / h observed earlier in the week and are expected to remain reverse until the early hours of Sunday, as data from the Mallnow measuring point at German-Polish border.

It is unclear when the pipeline will return to westward flows to Germany. A source close to Gazprom said the company is expected to change flows sometime this month, as Gazprom has paid for the volumes to the west.

Russia has denied allegations by many European politicians that it was holding back gas supplies to pressure German and European authorities to give the green light to the newly built Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

On Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak reiterated that Russia was ready to supply more gas to Europe, but only if there were new long-term contracts – a position that Moscow has held since the gas crisis erupted last year.