The cut in Russian gas deliveries to European customers, which have agreed to the ruble-to-gas scheme Putin has demanded, is explained by Moscow with Siemens Energy delaying the return of a repaired gas turbine from Canada because of the sanctions on Russia. European leaders, however, say that Russia’s official explanation is a lie and the lower deliveries were a political move from the Kremlin.
This week, Russia reduced supply to its biggest customers in Europe, Germany and Italy, each of which were sourcing around 40 percent of their gas from Russia before the invasion of Ukraine. Also this week, the leaders of Germany, Italy, and France visited Kyiv and met with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a show of support of the EU to Ukraine.
On Tuesday, Russia’s Gazprom said it would limit gas supply via the Nord Stream pipeline to Germany by 40 percent compared to planned flows because of a delay in equipment repairs. On Wednesday, Gazprom said the cuts would deepen to 60% of the daily throughput.
Commenting on the lower supply from Russia, Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi said on Thursday that the Russian “technical reasons” for reduced deliveries were “lies.”
“Germany, we, and others believe that these explanations are lies and that gas is being used as a political tool, just like grain is,” Draghi said.
source of the news:oilprice.com