OTTAWA –
Canada will return a repaired Russian turbine to Germany needed for maintenance on the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources said in a statement Saturday.
The Canadian government, which is issuing a “revocable, term permit” to exempt the return of the turbines from Russian sanctions, said the move would support “Europe’s ability to continue access to reliable and affordable energy as they continue to transition away from Russian oil and gas.”
Canada also announced it would expand sanctions on Russia’s energy sector to include industrial production.
The new Canadian sanctions “will apply to road and pipeline transportation, metal production and transportation, computers, electronic and electrical equipment, and machinery.”
Russia’s Gazprom cut capacity along the Nord Stream 1 pipeline from Russia to Europe to just 40% of normal levels last month, citing delayed equipment returns by Germany’s Siemens Energy. in Canada. Siemens Energy did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday.
Canada said “without the necessary supply of natural gas, the German economy will be in great trouble and Germans themselves will risk not being able to heat their homes as winter approaches.”
The German government, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday, confirmed on Friday that it had received a positive signal from Canada about a turbine needed for Nord Stream 1 maintenance.
Alexandra Chyczij, the national chair of the Ukrainian Parliament of Canada, said in a statement Saturday that “our community is deeply disappointed by the Canadian government’s decision to bow to Russian blackmail. “
The group said Canada is setting “a dangerous precedent that will lead to the weakening of the sanctions regime imposed on Russia.”
A government source told Reuters earlier this week that the turbine would be shipped to Germany, which would then pass it on to Russian state-controlled Gazprom.
A source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday the decision to return the turbine had been made.
The Kremlin on Friday said it would increase gas supplies to Europe if the turbines were returned.
Ukraine has opposed Canada’s handover of turbines to Gazprom, and Kyiv believes such a move would introduce sanctions on Russia, a source with Ukraine’s energy ministry said on Thursday.
Canada’s Deputy Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said Saturday in a statement that “Canada staunchly supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity… Canada will not cease to exert pressure on the Russian authorities.”
(Reporting by Steve Scherer in Ottawa and David Shepardson in Washington; edited by Sandra Maler, Lisa Shumaker and Chris Reese)
