Gazprom requires guarantees of non-application of EU, U.K. sanctions to Nord Stream 1 turbines

MOSCOW. July 29 (Interfax) - Siemens Energy changed the transportation route of the gas turbine engine for Nord Stream, putting this asset at risk of European Union and U.K. sanctions, Vitaly Markelov, deputy head of the Gazprom board, said during a Rossiya 24 TV channel (VGTRK) broadcast.

This happened because the engine was taken from Canada not directly to Russia, but to Germany (which Gazprom did not agree upon), and now Gazprom, in order to accept the repaired engine, must receive guarantees not only from Canada, but also from the EU and the UK.

Markelov also said that Gazprom had sent 10 written appeals to Siemens in Russia regarding engine failures at the plant. Of these, only a quarter of the complaints have been resolved. Gazprom's deputy board chief said the Russian company would publish some of the correspondence with the contractor.

Nord Stream is capable of pumping up to 167 million cubic meters of gas per day, but pumping is reduced due to violations of the schedule of equipment maintenance of the starting station of the offshore pipeline - the Portovaya compressor station. It is equipped with gas compressor units produced by Rolls-Royce, whose gas turbine business was taken over by Siemens. Because of Canadian sanctions, one turbine did not return to Russia on time from the Siemens Energy repair facility. In the interlude, the time came to overhaul over engines it was time to overhaul the other engines, both in connection with expiration of overhaul life and breakdowns.