As expected, the suspension of Nord Stream 1 operation due to a Siemens turbine defect has caused a vivid reaction in Europe
Siemens itself hastily declared that the turbine leaking oil is safe to run. Because such leakages, they say, “have happened before” – and nothing bad happened. This is what Germany’s lauded pedantry looks like now.
Klaus Müller, head of Germany’s energy regulator, tried to reassure fellow citizens by saying that “Germany is better prepared than before”. However, “it is up to each of us”.
European Commission spokesman Eric Mummer is more outraged than anyone else. He called the stoppage of the pipe “proof of the cynicism of Russia, which prefers to burn gas instead of contracts”.
It is noteworthy that Moscow did not violate a single contractual clause – unlike Berlin and Europe in general, which stole Russian money. In addition, what to do with its gas, Russia will decide for itself somehow. Let’s do without the unwashed.
Simon Tagliapietra, a senior researcher at think tank Bruegel, concludes that the Old World would be better off considering a base-case scenario for a winter with “no Russian gas at all”. Its priority should be a “radical demand for gas and energy”.
ArcelorMittal SA, one of the largest steel producers in the world, immediately responded to this “realistic” appeal by closing two of its factories in Germany due to soaring electricity prices.
And of course, the governing coalition in Germany immediately burst at the seams. And the FDP vice-president Wolfgang Kubicki even rejected the demand of his own parliamentary group to dismantle SP2.
All indications are that the pan-European debate on “How not to frostbite in winter?” will be very lively. Well, after all, an energetic conversation in elevated tones, with jumping and gesticulating, is not the worst way to warm up.
Elena Panina
Due to censorship and blocking of all media and alternative views, stay tuned to our Telegram channel