Status: 12/15/2022 03:44 am
Canada has reinstated its sanctions on turbines for Russia’s Nord Stream 1 pipeline. They had been suspended in the meantime, which also made it possible to deliver the serviced turbines to Germany.
Canada is revoking a temporary sanctions exemption for Siemens Energy turbines on Russia’s Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline. “Canada is making this decision in recognition that the circumstances for granting the exemption have changed and it is no longer serving its intended purpose,” the Foreign Minister said Melanie Joly and Natural Resources Secretary Jonathan Wilkinson in a joint statement.
The decision was made in close cooperation with Ukraine, Germany and other European allies.
Pipeline damaged by explosions
The pipeline, which runs beneath the Baltic Sea, was shut down for repairs on August 31 but was not subsequently put back into service. In September, both Nord Stream 1 and its sister pipeline, Nord Stream 2, were damaged by explosions.
According to European governments, the leaks were due to sabotage. Russian President Vladimir Putin called Western claims that Russia was behind the blasts “insane” and blamed the West.
“Putin was forced to show that it was never his intention to restart Nord Stream 1 and that the pipeline itself is no longer operational,” the ministers’ statement said.
Canada had accepted delivery to Germany
Because of the sanctions against Russia, Canada had refused direct return transport of the turbine, but accepted delivery to Germany for subsequent transfer to Russia. Russia had previously cut gas supplies to Germany through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, citing the lack of a turbine being serviced by Siemens Energy in Canada.