Gazprom will supply less gas to Europe from Wednesday because maintenance is required on a turbine of the important Nord Stream pipeline. According to the Russian state gas company, only 33 million cubic meters of gas per day will pass through the pipeline in two days. That is about 20 percent of the maximum capacity, currently the throughput is at 40 percent.
Gas supply via the pipeline, which is very important for Western Europe, has been under pressure since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February. The supply has decreased even more in recent weeks due to planned maintenance. For example, a turbine had to be sent to Canada. Partly because of this, less than half the usual amount of gas flows through the pipeline.
Although the turbine from Canada is not back yet, Gazprom now says another turbine is also in need of maintenance. This will roughly halve the supply, the company says.
This will further exacerbate gas problems in Europe. Germany, in particular, is a major user of Russian natural gas and fears major problems if the supply decreases further. Other countries in Europe, including the Netherlands, are also concerned about gas shortages when the cold period starts again.
Last week, the EU released a plan to cut gas use by 15 percent in member states. In the first instance, the countries can try that themselves, but if it doesn’t work out, Brussels will impose it. There has been a lot of resistance against the plans, including from southern European countries. They use less gas from Russia.
Energy Minister Rob Jetten said last week that the Dutch cabinet sees something in the plans. Especially because, according to him, our country already consumes less than in recent years, so that the Netherlands could achieve the target of 15 percent without too many problems.