Russia’s decision to suspend gas flares through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, putting further pressure on Europe’s energy supplies, quickly drew criticism from several ministries and officials across the continent.
State-owned Gazprom’s announcement that it was once again shutting down Nord Stream 1 was “under false pretenses” and was “further confirmation of its unreliability as a supplier,” wrote Eric Mamer, chief spokesman for European Commission, on Twitter.
Gazprom’s announcement this afternoon that it is once again shutting down NorthStream1 under false pretenses is further confirmation of its unreliability as a supplier.
It is also proof of Russia’s cynicism, as it prefers to light gas rather than honor contracts.
— Eric Mamer (@MamerEric) September 2, 2022
Mamer said Gazprom’s actions demonstrated the “wisdom” of the EU’s previous decisions to stockpile gas in stores ahead of winter, as well as its plans for a 15% reduction in demand for gas and efforts to accelerate the installation of renewable energy capacity in the union.
“You don’t need to change course; we should stay the course and intensify our efforts”, said Mamer.
EU energy ministers are already planning to meet in an emergency session in Brussels next Friday.
Having also noted Russia’s “unreliability” as a supplier, a representative of the German economy ministry said the country was better prepared than a few months ago to increase its independence from Russian energy imports.
“We will achieve our goal of achieving [storage facilities] 85 percent full in October as early as the first days of September,” the representative continued. “We are also making progress in finding alternative supply routes to the Russian ones and building LNG import capabilities.”
A senior energy official in Ukraine said Gazprom’s decision to keep the Nord Stream pipeline shut was not unexpected.
“Blackmailing EU gas is intensifying,” said Serhiy Makogon, chief executive of Ukraine’s pipeline operator.
“The Ukraine route is the only gas transit route to Western Europe that is still working” and there were no signs that Gazprom planned to increase the flow despite only 40% of reserved capacity being used, he said Macagon.