Gazprom says no Nord Stream turbines currently being serviced in Canada

MOSCOW. Aug 25 (Interfax) - No Nord Stream gas pipelines are currently on Canada's territory, Russia's Gazprom said.

"Not one of the Portovaya compressor station's turbines is currently in Canada for servicing," it said.

Canadian sanctions against Gazprom have delayed the return of one of the Portovaya turbines from maintenance in Montreal. Meanwhile, the time has come for maintenance on the other turbines, owing to their having reached the end of the operating period between repairs, as well as because of breakdowns. Just one Nord Stream turbine is currently operating.

Canada still plans to return five turbines used in the gas pipeline, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said on August 24. "That was the decision that we took," Joly told the CBC TV channel. "That's exactly what Germany asked us," she said. Joly said that in Ottawa's opinion. Russia should reconsider as soon as possible its refusal to recover the Siemens turbine handed over to Germany for the Nord Stream pipeline.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told CBC that Germany would continue to work with Canada to ensure the remaining five turbines are returned.

CBC said that in July, the Canadian government granted an exemption to ship six turbines undergoing maintenance in Montreal back to Germany to be subsequently handed over to Gazprom. One turbine has been returned to Germany.

The sanctions imposed against Russia are hindering a successful outcome to the situation with the transportation and repair of Siemens gas turbine engines for the Portovaya compressor station, which pumps gas to European consumers via the Nord Stream gas pipeline, Gazprom said on August 4.