On July 24, Siemens Energy handed over to Gazprom an export license issued by Canada, allowing it to repair, service and transport gas turbines for Nord Stream until 2024. According to Kommersant, Gazprom applied to Siemens three times with a request to provide this document.
On July 23, the turbine was supposed to leave Germany for Helsinki, and from there overland to Russia, but due to paper delays, this did not take place. In order for Siemens to import the turbine to Russia, Gazprom must now change the delivery point from Montreal, Canada to a point in the Russian Federation. Transportation of the car may take place in the next few days, but the sources of the publication doubt that the delivery of the turbine will lead to an increase in pumping through the Nord Stream, as several more cars need to be repaired.
Gazprom was supposed to pick up the repaired machine in Canada on its own, but after the imposition of sanctions on the company, this became impossible, and Siemens decided to deliver the turbine to Russia itself. At the same time, the shipping documentation has not been changed.
Earlier, Canada was going to return to Germany a repaired Siemens turbine for Nord Stream. Without natural gas supplies, the German economy will face very serious difficulties, and Germans risk being unable to heat their homes in the winter, Canadian Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson said.
Nord Stream was stopped for scheduled repairs from 11 to 21 July. Due to the delay in the return of the turbine, Gazprom has reduced the capacity of the gas pipeline from Russia to Europe to 40% of the usual level. Reuters, citing sources, reported that Russia is deliberately delaying the process of returning Siemens gas turbines in order to prevent the operational launch of the Nord Stream gas pipeline at full capacity.