6/23/22
By RT News

Nord Stream pipeline to be switched off for 10 days
Planned annual maintenance will take place from July 11 to July 21.

The German government is alarmed over upcoming maintenance at a major Russian pipeline, fearing that the flow of gas will not be turned back on, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

According to the paper, last week’s 60% reduction of gas flow by Gazprom due to a technical issue with parts adds to fears that the supply may be shut down completely. This comes as Europe is trying to top up its gas reserves ahead of the winter season.

Gazprom’s Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline undergoes maintenance every year in mid-July. The dates for the work were confirmed earlier this month to take place from July 11 to July 21, with Germany’s Federal Network Agency warning that during the 10-day period transporting gas through the pipeline would be impossible.

In recent years, the maintenance-related shortfall in supplies via Nord Stream was compensated by increased flows through Ukraine or Poland. However, various officials and industry representatives told the FT they feared that Russia may not do that this time, leaving the continent to face gas shortages.

The German government on Thursday declared the second “alarm” level of its three-level gas emergency plan. According to the Federal Network Agency, the situation with gas supply is currently stable but if Russian supplies via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline remain at the current low level Germany will struggle to fill its storage to 90% by December without additional measures.

Blogger comments:

Notice how the unfortunate series of events has a way of boomeranging: The only thing Russia wanted was a serious discussion about the future of Ukraine - that NATO would publicly pledge to reject Ukrainian membership in NATO.
Something that should have been done a long time ago with respect to all the former Warsaw Pact states. NATO didn't do it, and given the threat Ukrainian membership posed to Russia, analogous to the Cuban missile crisis, a preemptive war was launched.

One unfortunate decision (NATO deciding not to discuss Russia´s proposal) led to another unfortunate event (the war). Sanctions vs. Russia were then announced but they too have had an unfortunate boomerang effect - biting back on the West in terms of inflation, while Russia has no choice but to reduce the gas supply because sanctions prevent the delivery of needed pipeline parts.
Therefore, the West in effect cut off its nose to spite its face - another unfortunate result stemming from its original decision to dismiss Russia´s proposal for talks about the status of Ukraine. As inflation spirals out of control, driven by the lack of energy in the West, a recession looms, which will unfortunately drag down the world economy - possibly causing millions to lose their jobs.

Yet another harm done to millions who have absolutely nothing to do with either side of any war, but who may, nonetheless be seriously adversely affected by NATO´s decision not to discuss the status of Ukraine with Russia. Still, when you consider that the entire sad and most tragic train of events could have been avoided had NATO simply taken seriously what Russia was saying - that potential Ukrainian membership in NATO was a non-starter and a security threat - the entire string of nightmares, springing forth from that initial foolish decision of NATO not to at least talk, would never have occurred.

Now, the only alternative for W. Europe will probably be a return to coal, which will drive even more air pollution into the atmosphere than gas, hence worsening global warming. If that occurs, and it undoubtedly will unless the West comes to its senses, you can thank NATO for the resulting climate catastrophes - that could have been avoided had they discussed Ukraine with Russia, struck a deal, and kept their supply of much cleaner natural gas.
W. Europe is not exactly in a position to bargain or make demands because the coal alternative is both politically unpopular and ecologically backward - yet that is the only option they have at this point: Go back to the 19th C, prior to the modern energy era of oil and gas, turn London back into Big Smoky, and blacken Berlin once again under a veil of soot. Kieran

Source:
https://www.rt.com/business/557691-russian-pipeline-repair-panic-germany/