After a 10-day interruption, Russia started flowing gas through its largest pipeline to Europe on Thursday, the operator said, assuaging Europe’s immediate winter supply concerns after President Vladimir Putin warned that shipments may be reduced further or stopped.
Flows surged from zero to 29,284,591 kWh/h for 0600-0700 Central European Time Thursday, according to data from operator Nord Stream. Flows were nearly the same on July 10, the last day of operations before maintenance work began, little around 29,000,000 kWh/h. Flows are operating at lower quantities, as they have been since Russia’s onslaught in Ukraine, with Moscow constraining supplies to the European region. However, it is likely to come as a relief to European authorities who have been trying to find alternate suppliers of Russian gas.
The supply delays have delayed European efforts to replenish winter gas reserves, raising the prospect of rationing and further harm to Europe’s frail economic development if Moscow restricts flows further in retaliation for Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis. The Kremlin claims Russia is a reliable energy supplier and blames reduced flows on sanctions.
Energy as a Weapon for Putin
“Russia is blackmailing us. Russia is using energy as a weapon,” EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated on Wednesday that Europe must brace itself for the worst right now. “Therefore, in any event, whether it’s a partial, major cut-off of Russian gas or a total cut-off of Russian gas, Europe needs to be ready.”
To avoid a winter supply shortage, the European Commission has suggested a voluntary objective for all EU member states to reduce gas consumption by 15% from August to March compared to the same time in 2016-2021. The Commission plan would allow Brussels to make the objective mandatory in the event of a supply crisis.
According to the Commission, a complete shutdown over the winter may have a significant impact on EU economies, decreasing growth by up to 1.5%. The International Monetary Fund warned this week that it might send countries into recession, exacerbating an energy crisis that has sent consumer bills skyrocketing.
European countries have been attempting to stockpile gas ahead of winter in case Moscow further curbs supplies. The planned 15% decrease is in comparison to the average use from 2016 to 2021.
