Why is Russia stopping the supply of gas to Europe?

Critics accuse the Russian government of using gas as a political weapon.

What is Nord Stream 1 and how much does it supply?

The Nord Stream 1 pipeline is 1,200 kilometers long and stretches under the Baltic Sea, from the Russian coast near St. Petersburg to northeastern Germany.

It was opened in 2011 and can send a maximum of 170 million cubic meters of gas per day from Russia to Germany.

The pipeline is owned and operated by the company Nord Stream AG, whose main shareholder is the Russian state company, Gazprom.

Germany imports 55% of its gas from Russia and most of it is provided through Nord Stream 1, with the rest through land-based pipelines.

Germany has also agreed to build a parallel pipeline – Nord Stream 2 – but it has never become operational, due to Russia’s occupation of Ukraine.

How has Russia reduced supplies and how are they hurting Europe?

In May, Gazprom shut down the Yamal gas pipeline, which runs through Belarus and Poland and sends gas to Germany and other European countries.

Then, in mid-June, Gazprom reduced gas deliveries through Nord Stream 1 by 75% – from 170 million cubic meters of gas per day to approximately 40 million cubic meters.

In early July, the company shut down North Stream 1 for ten days for what it said was maintenance.

Now, very soon after the reopening of the pipeline, Gazprom has halved the amount it sends to 20 million cubic meters.

A day earlier, when Russia warned that it would limit supplies, wholesale gas prices in Europe rose by 10%.

Gas prices are now 450% higher than they were last year at this time.

“The market is so tight at the moment that any interruption in supply causes a bigger increase in the price of gas”says Carole Nakhle, chief analyst at the Crystal Energy company, for the BBC.

“This could cause a slowdown in European economies and accelerate the path to recession.” she adds.

How has Europe reacted to dwindling supplies?

Gazprom has said it is reducing supplies because it has to shut down one of its turbines for maintenance, but few in Europe believe this.

The German government has said there is no technical reason for Gazprom to limit supplies.

The head of the EU’s energy policy, Kadri Simson, has said that Russia’s actions are “politically motivated”.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has described them as “an open gas war that Russia is waging against a united Europe”.

“Russia is increasingly weaponizing gas,” Kate Dourian, a fellow at the London-based Energy Institute, told the BBC.

“She’s trying to show that she’s still an energy superpower and that she can get revenge [kundër] the sanctions imposed by Europe“, she adds.

What can Europe do?

Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, Germany has tried to secure alternative gas supplies from Norway and the Netherlands.

It is also buying five floating terminals to import liquefied natural gas from Qatar and the US, Dourian says.

“You cannot become dependent on Russian gas, as Germany has, and quickly change your sources of supply”says Nakhle.

Italy and Spain are trying to import more gas from Algeria.

Germany is also increasing its use of coal and will extend the life of power plants it has planned to close – despite their impact on climate change.

“Everyone is taking their own steps to solve the power shortage issue and making their own arrangements”says Dourian.

How is Europe reducing the need for gas?

The EU has worked out an agreement, according to which the member countries will reduce the use by 15%.

Many European citizens are taking steps themselves.

“In Germany”, says Nakhle, “People are buying wood stoves and installing solar panels. Everyone is taking steps to reduce gas use“./ Radio Free Europe

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