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Canada to return seized Russian gas turbine to Germany
Canada is risking Ukraine’s ire by returning to Germany a repaired giant turbine that will speed the flow of Russian gas through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, Reuters reports.
Canada announced its decision Saturday after originally seizing the damaged turbine, owned by Russian gas and oil giant Gazprom, last month while it was undergoing repair in the workshops of Siemens Energy Canada.
⚡️ Reuters: Canada will deliver turbine needed for maintenance of Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline to Germany.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) July 8, 2022
Despite Ukraine opposing it, Canada will hand over the turbine to Russia's Gazprom, Reuters reported, citing anonymous sources.
Kyiv urged the Canadian government not to return it to Germany, stating that such a decision would breach the integrity of sanctions against Russia. But Germany, which is facing severe gas shortages, is being threatened with a further squeeze on Russian gas by Moscow if the turbine isn’t returned, and pleaded with Canada to send it back.
Its return will support “Europe’s ability to access reliable and affordable energy as they continue to transition away from Russian oil and gas,” Canada’s energy ministry said in a statement.
In an apparent attempt at appeasement of Ukraine, Canada announced new sanctions against Russia’s energy sector. The sanctions “will apply to land and pipeline transport and the manufacturing of metals and of transport, computer, electronic and electrical equipment, as well as of machinery,” the statement said.
Here’s a handy explainer from CBC about the wrangling over the turbine.
And you can read more about Germany’s reliance on Russian energy here:
