OTTAWA –
Canada will return a refurbished Russian turbine to Germany needed to support the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, Canada’s natural resources minister said in a statement on Saturday.
The Canadian government, which is issuing a “time-limited and revocable permit” to exempt the return of the turbines from its Russian sanctions, said the move would support “Europe’s ability to access reliable and affordable energy while they continue to steer clear of Russian oil and gas.”
Canada also announced it would expand sanctions against Russia’s energy sector to include industrial production.
Canada’s new sanctions “will apply to land and pipeline transportation and the manufacturing of metals and transportation, computer, electronic and electrical equipment and machinery.”
Russia’s Gazprom cut capacity on the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline from Russia to Europe to just 40 percent of normal levels last month, citing the delayed return of equipment serviced by Germany’s Siemens Energy in Canada. Siemens Energy did not immediately return a request for comment on Saturday.
Canada said that “without the necessary supply of natural gas, the German economy will suffer very seriously and Germans themselves will be at risk of 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 regarding a turbine needed to support Nord Stream 1.
Alexandra Chitsyzh, national president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, 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 a weakening of the sanctions regime imposed on Russia.”
The turbine will be sent first to Germany, which will then deliver it to Russia’s state-owned Gazprom, a government source told Reuters earlier this week.
A decision has already been made to return the turbine, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.
On Friday, the Kremlin said it would increase gas supplies to Europe if the turbine is returned.
Ukraine has opposed the handover of the turbine to Gazprom from Canada, and Kyiv believes such a move would thwart sanctions against Russia, a Ukrainian energy ministry source said on Thursday.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement Saturday that “Canada is unwavering in its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine … Canada will not back down in pressure on the Russian regime.”
(Reporting by Steve Sherer in Ottawa and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Sandra Mahler, Lisa Shoemaker and Chris Rees)
Add Comment