MOSCOW—Gazprom Chief Executive Alexei Miller on Wednesday said Western sanctions mean Siemens Energy is unable to carry out regular maintenance on equipment for the Nord Stream 1 natural gas pipeline, Interfax news agency reported.
Periodic replacement of some equipment, such as turbines, is needed to ensure the smooth transport of gas. Its state of repair has kept gas markets on red alert for weeks as fear mounts in the West that Russia will completely cut off supplies to Europe during the peak demand winter months.
Gazprom has cited faulty or delayed equipment as the main reason for a reduction of deliveries via Nord Stream. The Kremlin said on Tuesday that only sanctions prevented Nord Stream 1 from working at full capacity….