Business & Economy

Russia shuts down Nord Stream pipeline for ‘maintenance’

Moscow, Jul 11 (EFE).- The Russian gas pipeline Nord Stream 1, the biggest single pipeline carrying Russian gas to Germany, was suspended Monday for a 10-day planned maintenance shutdown, operator Nord Stream AG reported.

Since June, the pipeline has been operating at 40 percent capacity, which Moscow said was because Canada has not returned a turbine that was under repair in the country by German firm Siemens, and needed for pumping fuel.

Canada has said it will return the repaired turbine to Germany, which Ukraine has condemned, saying it undermines sanctions on Russia.

Last year, maintenance work on the pipeline was carried out over July 13-23.

Gas pumping was suspended at 7 am Moscow time (04:00 GMT), according to Nord Stream AG.

In the previous 24 hours, 63.4 million cubic meters of gas were supplied, representing 40 percent of daily capacity.

In June, Russia announced two consecutive reductions in gas supplies through Nord Stream 1. First, one of 40 percent, which Russian gas giant Gazprom blamed on Siemens’ “repair” work on compressor units, and then another 33 percent.

The Kremlin has rejected any suggestion that Russia is using oil and gas as political weapons. EFE

mos/tw

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