Russia's Gazprom suspends gas deliveries to Europe

Please share this story:

Russian energy giant Gazprom suspended gas deliveries to Germany on a major pipeline on Wednesday, the latest in a series of supply shutdowns that have fueled an energy crisis in Europe.

p>

Gazprom said supplies via Nord Stream 1 had been "completely halted" for "preventive work" on a compressor unit, shortly after European gas network operator ENTSOG announced deliveries had ceased.

Gazprom also announced that it would suspend gas supplies from main French supplier Engie from Thursday after it failed to pay for all deliveries made in July.

The latest shutdown comes as European countries grapple with soaring energy prices since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February and subsequently curtailed gas deliveries to the region.

Germany, heavily dependent on Russian gas, has accused Moscow of using the energy as a “weapon”.

But Gazprom said the three-day maintenance work was "necessary" and should be done after "every 1,000 hours of operation".

The head of Germany's Federal Network Agency, Klaus Mueller, called the decision "technically incomprehensible", warning that it was probably just a pretext for Moscow to brandish the energy supply as a threat.

Experience shows that Moscow “makes a political decision after every so-called interview,” he said, adding that “we won't know until early September if Russia starts again.”

AFP

All rights reserved. This material and any other digital content on this website may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without the prior express written permission of PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor[at]punchng.com