Ukraine criticizes the sending of turbines from Canada to equip a Russian gas pipeline | War in Ukraine
Pipes at the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline facilities in Lubmin, Germany on March 8, 2022.
The Ukrainian government is asking Canada to reconsider its decision to allow the delivery of turbines to Germany to be used to equip a Russian natural gas pipeline between Russia and Europe.
For Ukraine, Ottawa's decision to allow the shipment of such equipment sets a dangerous precedent that risks undermining economic sanctions imposed on Russia by the West .
In a statement released late Saturday evening, Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said Canada will grant Siemens Canada a revocable, time-limited permit to allow the repaired Nord Stream 1 turbines to return to Germany, which will support Europe's ability to access reliable and affordable energy as it continues its transition away from Russian oil and gas.
The turbines in question, from Gazprom's Nord Stream pipeline, are in a factory of the German company Siemens in Montreal to be refurbished, Minister Wilkinson confirmed earlier this week.
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Last month, Siemens Energy reported that Canadian sanctions imposed on Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine prevented it from returning turbines to Germany.
The Canadian government will finally authorize the delivery of the equipment parts because they are deemed essential to the Russian company Gazprom for the supply of gas in Germany.
Without a necessary supply of natural gas, the German economy will suffer very significant difficulties and Germans themselves may not be able to heat their homes as winter approaches. #x27;winter, specifies the written declaration.
On Sunday, Ukraine's foreign and energy ministers expressed their deep disappointment, calling the Canadian decision a dangerous precedent that violates international solidarity and goes against the rule of law.
For Ukrainian ministers, Canada’s decision will only reinforce Russia's sense of impunity.
Siemens Energy had told the Associated Press in mid-June that Gazprom had started cutting gas flows because it had been unable to turn over a turbine that powers a compressor station on the pipeline, whose maintenance was planned after more than 10 years of service.
Canada justifies its decision citing the significant repercussions on the population and the German economy if he does not return the turbines to SIemens.
German politicians dismissed the Russian explanation for the 60% reduction in gas flows through Nord Stream 1, saying the equipment should not have been a major issue until fall and that the Russian move was a political ploy to sow uncertainty and raise prices.
German Vice-Chancellor and Economics and Climate Minister Robert Habeck says he suspects Russia could point to a few small technicalities as a reason for not resuming gas deliveries.
Last month, Minister Habeck moved forward with the second phase of his country's three-stage emergency plan for natural gas supplies, warning that Europe's largest economy was facing a crisis and winter storage targets were in jeopardy.
On Friday, energy company Uniper, the largest importer of Russian gas in Germany, has asked the government for financial assistance to deal with rising gasoline prices.
