Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, Jonathan Wilkinson, said Saturday that Canada will return Russian turbines to Germany that are needed to perform critical maintenance on the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline.
Wilkinson said the Canadian government will issue a permit exempting the turbines from Russian sanctions so they can be returned. He noted this would support, “Europe’s ability to access reliable and affordable energy as they continue to transition away from Russian oil and gas,” and that, “absent a necessary supply of natural gas, the German economy will suffer very significant hardship and Germans themselves will be at risk of being unable to heat their homes as winter approaches.
Canada also announced it was implementing expanded sanctions against Russia, including against its energy sector and its industrial manufacturing sector.
The new sanctions, “will apply to land and pipeline transport and the manufacturing of metals and of transport, computer, electronic and electrical equipment, as well as of machinery.”
The turbines will be released to Germany, who will then forward them on to Russia’s state energy company Gazprom, according to a government source.
Gazprom had cut gas flows through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to 40% of it’s normal flow level, noting that absent the repaired turbines, it could not maintain normal gas pressures in the pipeline. The turbines had been shipped to Canada where they were being serviced as part of regular maintenance by Germany’s Siemens Energy in Canada.
Gazprom has said if it receives the turbines, it will be able to restore normal levels of gas flow to Germany.
All of Europe has been rattled as sanctions levied against Russia have combined with political posturing and retaliations, to interrupt normal gas supplies, during this critical period when Europe normally replenishes storage capacity of gas in preparation for the cold European winter. During winters, Europe needs all of its storage capacity combined with full flows of gas to keep its populations warm.
Europe increased its importation of US Liquid Natural Gas in an attempt to make up the difference, however that was stymied somewhat when the second largest US LNG export facility in Texas, the Freeport LNG export facility, was shut down after an explosion and fire damaged it. As a result the European gas market has been unusually tight and numerous countries have been implementing emergency procedures due to fears they will not be able to replenish their storage capacities in preparation for winter.
A Ukrainian energy ministry source said Thursday that Ukraine opposes the return of the turbines, viewing it as a violation of the sanctions placed on Russia.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Jol said in response that, “Canada is unwavering in its support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity… Canada will not relent in pressuring the Russian regime.”
