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Russia looks set to resume gas supplies through its key pipeline to Europe, a relief for markets even as fears persist about more halts this winter.
Grid data indicate that flows will resume on Saturday at 20 percent of capacity as planned. It’s become a persistent worry among policy makers in Europe that when Russia shuts the Nord Stream pipeline for what it says is necessary maintenance, it may not restart.
Germany has already said that it wouldn’t count on Nord Stream this winter at all. Gazprom PJSC says the only functioning gas turbine at the link’s entry point must undergo technical maintenance every 1 000 hours.
That’s about every 42 days, with the next checks due in mid-October. Expectations are growing in Europe that these flows will be used continually throughout the winter to keep markets on edge and as a way to squeeze the bloc on sanctions.
Shipment orders, published by the pipeline’s operator, indicate that flows are expected to restart from 2 a.m.
Berlin time on Saturday at one fifth of normal capacity, the same level as before the work.
Orders don’t guarantee actual flows, and normally it takes time for supplies to recover to planned levels.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak signaled on Thursday the country is sticking to the schedule it outlined, according to Tass news service.
Gazprom slashed supplies through Nord Stream in July, shortly after the pipeline’s seasonal maintenance, citing technical issues.
The flows were halted on Wednesday for checks at the only functioning turbine that helps to pump gas into the pipeline. – Bloomberg
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