Ukraine-News: Supply cuts for Russian gas according to Habeck "political decision"

Created: 06/15/2022, 16:30

By: Patricia Huber

Russia is turning the gas tap again.

Again for repair work, says Gazprom.

Robert Habeck doubts this representation.

Berlin – The Russian energy group Gazprom is again reducing the maximum gas delivery volumes through the Nord Stream 1 Baltic Sea pipeline to Germany.

From Thursday morning only a maximum of 67 million cubic meters will be pumped through the pipeline every day, Gazprom announced on Wednesday afternoon.

The Russian state company once again justified this step with delays in repair work by Siemens.

Gazprom had already announced a 40 percent reduction in the maximum delivery volume on Tuesday.

Russian gas: Habeck sees “no technically justifiable decision”

Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) classifies the recent throttling of Russian gas supplies as politically motivated.

He also has the impression that "what happened yesterday is a political decision, not a technically justifiable decision," said Habeck on Wednesday in Berlin.

Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said that Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) would follow the assessment of the responsible federal minister.

Habeck put the step in a row with the previous suspension of gas supplies to Bulgaria, Poland and Denmark and the sanctioning of Gazprom Germania.

The Green politician spoke of a piecemeal or step-by-step approach.

He explained that maintenance work by Siemens would not be due until the fall.

Gazprom had cited delays in repairs by Siemens on a gas compressor unit as the reason.

Habeck: Germany has “no supply problem”

"We have (...) no supply problem in Germany," assured Habeck at the same time.

We have to wait and see the effects.

So far, the suppliers have always succeeded in “raising gas from other sources”.

A spokeswoman for Habeck said that after the step at Nord Stream, the efforts to fill up the gas storage facilities in Germany would not decrease.

The levels of gas storage are currently around 56 percent, according to the spokeswoman.

As of today, it will continue to be saved.

Of course, the situation must be closely monitored.

In order to be prepared for the winter and a possible failure of deliveries, the gas storage tanks should be sufficiently filled.