Russia shuts Nord Stream 1, the primary gas pipeline to Europe

Russia has halted gas supplies to Europe via a significant pipeline, Nord Stream 1, saying repairs are needed.

Gazprom, the Russian state-owned energy giant, said that the restrictions on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline would last for the next three days. Russia has already reduced gas export significantly via the channel. But the country denies accusations it has used energy supplies as a weapon of war against Europe. The Nord Stream 1 pipeline stretches 1,200 km under the Baltic Sea from the Russian coast near St Petersburg to north-eastern Germany.

The pipeline opened in 2011. It can send a maximum of 170 million cubic meters of gas daily from Russia to Germany. According to Russia, the pipeline was shut down for ten days in July for repairs. And now, it has been operating at just 20% capacity because of what Russia describes as faulty equipment.

The president of the network regulator of Germany said that the country would be able to cope with the situation if Russia resumed delivery in the coming days. But Robert Habeck, German Economy Minister, said that the move has already forced some German companies to stop production. According to him, the development was "alarming".