MOSCOW: Russia’s energy giant Gazprom has said it would once again drastically cut gas supplies to the EU through its main pipeline due to maintenance work, BBC has reported.
Gazprom said stopping another turbine at the Nord Stream 1 pipeline would cut daily gas production to 20%, halving the current level of supply.
The German government said there was no technical reason to limit gas supply, according to the report.
It is likely to make it more difficult for EU countries to replenish their stores of gas before winter.
The Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which pumps gas from Russia to Germany, has been running well below capacity for weeks, and was completely shut down for a 10-day maintenance break earlier this month.
Russia supplied the EU with 40% of its gas last year, and the EU has accused Russia of using energy as a weapon.
The European Commission has urged countries to cut gas use by 15% over the next seven months after Russia warned it could curb or halt supplies altogether.
Under the proposals, the voluntary target could become mandatory in an emergency.
European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, has said the prospect of Russia cutting off all supplies to the EU is a “likely scenario”.
(Inputs from BBC)
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