Ukraine is offering pipelines as a replacement for Gazprom’s impending shutdown

From August 31, natural gas will once again stop flowing through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, supposedly due to maintenance work, Russian state-owned company Gazprom announced, Welt reports.

Due to the imminent interruption of the supply of Russian natural gas through the Baltic Sea, Ukraine is offering its pipelines as a substitute. “The capabilities of the Ukrainian natural gas transmission system and the route through Poland are more than enough to ensure the fulfillment of obligations to deliver Russian natural gas to European countries.” This was announced by the manager of the Ukrainian gas pipeline network in Kyiv on Friday evening.

The alternative route is a good option “in view of the chronic interruptions in the work of Nord Stream 1”. Russian gas giant Gazprom had announced on Friday that it would stop the flow of natural gas through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline in the Baltic Sea for maintenance work from August 31 to September 2. In any case, only 20 percent of the pipeline’s capacity is being used today.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj has accused Russia of using its natural gas pipelines for blackmail. Without naming FDP Vice President Wolfgang Kubitsky, Selenskyj also spoke of “absurd statements” in Germany about the commissioning of Nord Stream 2. Russia only needs these pipelines to create problems in Europe, not to help with natural gas, he said.

Russia ignores this alternative supply option, the Ukrainian operator said. There are no objective reasons for limiting gas deliveries to the EU. Gazprom is trying to put pressure on European countries and prevent them from supporting Ukraine. Despite Russia’s war of aggression, some countries, particularly in southeastern Europe, still receive their natural gas in transit through Ukraine.

Russia shuts down Nord Stream 1 for three days

After maintenance work, 33 million cubic meters of natural gas will be delivered again daily, Gazprom announced. This corresponds to 20% of the maximum daily capacity to which Russia had already reduced delivery a few weeks ago.

During the three days, the only operational turbine at the Portovaya compressor station had to be checked and repaired, Gazprom said. This will be done in collaboration with Siemens Energy experts. When asked, Siemens Energy did not comment on Gazprom’s announcement. A spokesman for the Federal Network Agency said in the evening that the situation is being monitored in close cooperation with the natural gas industry and the Federal Ministry of Economy. Natural gas flow through Nord Stream 1 is currently unchanged at 20%.

Due to the supposed necessary repairs, Gazprom had already limited the flow of gas to 33 million cubic meters for some time. In order to bring back a turbine that had been repaired in Canada, Germany asked the Ottawa government for an exemption from sanctions against Moscow. But when the unit returned to Germany, Gazprom showed no rush to install it. Gazprom talked about missing documents. The German government therefore accused Moscow of merely faking the technical problems.

Due to the Russian attack on Ukraine, Germany is trying to reduce its dependence on Russian natural gas. In order to fill the warehouses for the heating season, other suppliers are being sought. The twin Nord Stream 1 pipeline has been transporting natural gas under the Baltic Sea to Germany since 2011.