Gas flows to EU but cut-off lingers

EU sanctions is enough motive for Moscow to deny it energy

BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — Russia on Thursday resumed critical gas supplies to Europe through Germany, reopening the Nord Stream gas pipeline after 10 days, but uncertainty lingered whether the continent could avert an energy crisis this winter.

“It’s working,” a Nord Stream spokesperson said, without specifying the amount of gas being delivered.

The German government had feared that Moscow would not reopen the pipeline after the scheduled work.

It believes Russia is squeezing supplies in retaliation for Western sanctions over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

The European Commission on Wednesday urged European Union (EU) countries to reduce demand for natural gas by 15 percent over the coming months to secure winter stocks and defeat Russia’s “blackmail.”

Last year, Russia accounted for 40 percent of the EU’s total gas imports and any further disruption to supply would also push consumer prices higher and raise the risk of a deep recession.

“Russia is blackmailing us,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters.

“Russia is using energy as a weapon and therefore, in any event, whether it’s a partial major cut-off of Russian gas or total cutoff... Europe needs to be ready.”

The Nord Stream 1 pipeline under the Baltic Sea has been shut down since 11 July to undergo annual maintenance.

Russia accounted for 40 percent of the EU’s total gas imports.

But the resumption of 40 percent of supplies would be insufficient to ward off an energy crisis in Europe this winter, according to experts.