Russia says it won't restart key gas pipeline to Europe as planned 'because of oil leak'

2 September 2022, 18:07 | Updated: 3 September 2022, 06:57

Gazprom has announced the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Europe will not be restarted tomorrow
Gazprom has announced the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Europe will not be restarted tomorrow. Picture: Alamy

By Daisy Stephens

Russia has said it will not restart the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which supplies gas to Europe, on Saturday as expected, blaming an 'oil leak'.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Russia's Gazprom halted the flow of natural gas through the major pipeline from Russia to Europe early on Wednesday.

The stoppage was announced in advance and was supposed to last three days.

But on Friday the Russian state-run energy company said in a social media post that it had identified "malfunctions" of a key turbine along the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which carries natural gas from western Russia to Germany.

Read more: Russian energy boss who criticised Putin's invasion of Ukraine dies after falling from sixth floor window

Read more: Ukrainian forces claim advances in occupied Kherson region in major counterattack

The Gazprom headquarters in Moscow
The Gazprom headquarters in Moscow. Picture: Alamy

It claimed to have received warnings from Russia's industrial safety watchdog that the leaks "do not allow for safe, trouble-free operation of the gas turbine engine".

"In connection with this, it is necessary to take appropriate measures and suspend further operation of the ... gas compressor unit in connection with the identified gross (safety) violations," the company said.

Gazprom announced the closure of Nord Stream 1 in mid-August, citing maintenance at a compressor station - an explanation that German officials have cast doubt on.

The company said that work is necessary on the only remaining functioning turbine at the Portovaya station, at the Russian end of the pipeline.

Transport Sec quizzed on ending reliance on Russian oil

It comes after finance ministers from the G7 - including Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi - agreed a price cap on Russian crude oil and petroleum products, a move Mr Zahawi said he believed would "curtail Putin's capacity to fund" the war in Ukraine.

The decision was made at a virtual meeting of the group, made up of seven of the world's richest countries - the UK, US, Canada, Italy, France, Germany and Japan - on Friday afternoon.

Confirming the news, Mr Zahawi said: "We will curtail Putin's capacity to fund his war from oil exports by banning services, such as insurance and the provision of finance, to vessels carrying Russian oil above an agreed price cap."

Blaming the energy crisis on the net zero target is 'ludicrous'

The price cap has not yet been decided.

A statement from the G7 finance ministers said it would be set by the full coalition before it is implemented in each country.

As well as limiting Russia's revenues, it is hoped the price cap can also bring down rising energy prices around the world.

Speaking after the announcement, Mr Zahawi said the move will "protect our citizens from oil price shocks next year".

Gazprom has repeatedly reduced the flow of gas through Nord Stream 1 claiming technical issues such as equipment repairs.

German officials called these cuts a political move to sow uncertainty and push up prices amid the war in Ukraine.

Russia has also reduced the flow of gas to other European countries which have sided with Ukraine in the war. The country has recently accounted for about a third of Germany's gas supplies.

The German government said last week that the drop in gas flows confirmed that Germany cannot rely on Russian deliveries, and announced it would step up its gas storage requirements and take further measures to conserve supplies.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Rita Lambourne, 58, was “fatally wounded” at her home in Bayencourt South, Bexhill

Man charged with axe murder of woman in own home

Lydia Mugambe is accused of taking 'advantage of her status'

UN judge ‘trafficked woman to UK to be her slave'

Anonymous posters have appeared in Hampstead Heath, a park in north London, calling for gay men to stop using the park for sex.

'Take back Hampstead Heath', dog walkers urged as posters appear calling for men to stop using park for sex

Gavin Nicholls was tackled to the ground by a plain-clothed officer outside the Co-op in Barnet

Moment serial shoplifter is tackled off e-scooter by police as he flees store in north London

The plane, which was carrying 80 people, slid down onto the icy runway at Toronto Pearson International Airport before bursting into flames

Horrifying video shows moment Delta plane crashes on tarmac and bursts into flames at Toronto airport

Healey's comments came following Russia-US Peake talks in Saudi Arabia.

UK facing 'new era of threat' from Russia, Defence Secretary says as he unveils ‘biggest military shake up in 50 years’

Passengers escape Flipped over Delta plane after it crashed while landing in Toronto

'We were hanging upside down like bats': Survivors reveal fear and chaos inside flipped over Delta plane

England's top judge slams Starmer and Badenoch over Gaza family immigration comments

'Judges aren't free from criticism': Backlash after England's top judge attacks Starmer's migrant remarks

Craig and Lindsay Foreman

British couple on round-the-world motorbike adventure charged with espionage by Iranian authorities

An assistant referee has been charged with child sexual offences.

Assistant referee for FA Cup and football league games charged with child sexual offence

Corinna Schumacher, right, has broken her silence on the case involving a plot to reveal Formula One star Michael Schumacher's health secrets.

Michael Schumacher's wife breaks silence after three men guilty of blackmail plot to reveal F1 legend's health secrets

Doctor Who

Doctor Who faces axe as Nucti Gatwa 'quits' show amid drop in ratings over 'woke' storylines

Pope Francis

Pope Francis cancels weekend engagements as hospital stay extended

Bristol, UK. 19th Mar, 2020. Petrol now under £1 a litre as the drop in oil prices hits the forecourt. 99.9p a litre at Costco, Avonmouth, Bristol. Credit: Julian Kemp/Alamy Live News

Ten people injured after 'noxious substance' thrown in Costco as police hold teenage suspect

Alhaurin El Grande Malaga Province Spain Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación

Heartbreak as Brit pensioner, 90, 'starves to death in her Spanish home' as son, 63, 'found dead in property'

E-scooters are currently illegal to use on the public highways including pavements.

E-scooters blamed for 'shocking' surge in uninsured teen riders with 2,000% increase in offences