Nord Stream to remain closed indefinitely
Gazprom's restart of Nord Stream has been indefinitely delayed due to an oil leak at the lone turbine operating at Portovaya compressor station, the Russian gas giant said September 2 in a post on its Telegram social media channel.
Nord Stream was expected to resume service September 3 after a three-day maintenance break. Gazprom did not say when it now expects the pipeline to reopen, but says similar oil leaks were detected at the compressor station's other turbines, many of which need to be fixed at Siemens Energy's repair yard in Canada.
|
Advertisement: The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (NGC) NGC’s HSSE strategy is reflective and supportive of the organisational vision to become a leader in the global energy business. |
The return of a single turbine repaired in Canada was stalled by export sanctions, but Gazprom refused to accept it even when the Canadian government offered special sanction exemptions allowing its return to Russia.
Gazprom says the turbine engine leak was found during an audit with Siemens. An oil-based sealing compound spilling down the side of the terminal connectors was photographed by Gazprom, which says liquids were also found on a subplate in the turbine engine's motor, and in the cable line of its automatic control system.
Siemens will receive a formal letter stating the "identified malfunctions" at the gas compressor unit. Gazprom said: "Until the comments on the equipment operation are eliminated, gas transport to the Nord Stream gas pipeline has been completely stopped."
The 55bn m3/y route has been operating at 20% capacity, meaning its extended closure will erase 11bn m3/yr of supply from central European markets, particularly Germany.
Despite Gazprom's official explanation, the timing is suspect given the G7 agreement earlier September 2 to impose price caps on Russian crude imports. It will be viewed in EU capitals as further escalation of the Kremlin's economic belligerency over western trade sanctions levied in response to its actions in Ukraine.