“Contrary to what had been announced, no gas will pass through the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline from this Saturday [3 septembre]”writes the Southgerman newspaper in live sound. Like many European media, the German daily closely follows the standoff between Russia and Europe in terms of energy, in the context of the war in Ukraine.
Because for three days, Moscow had interrupted the activity of the gas pipeline linking Siberia to Germany, evoking maintenance work, and at the same time cut off the supply of gas to the French group Engie. These decisions caused the Argentine newspaper to say Page 12 what “energy war [avait] started”. This time confirm The Guardian, there is no longer any doubt: this war “suddenly burst”.
“Obvious blackmail”
A few hours after the G7 summit, which culminated on Friday September 2 in the capping of the price of Russian oil, Vladimir Putin therefore counter-attacked by indefinitely suspending the activity of Nord Stream 1: an announcement “seen in the West as obvious blackmail”says the British newspaper.
Especially since the reason for oil leaks, invoked by the Russian authorities to justify the stoppage of the gas pipeline, does not hold water: “as a turbine manufacturer, we can affirm that such a finding does not constitute a technical reason to stop operations”the manufacturer Siemens Energy said in a statement.
Since Moscow started closing the gas tap at the start of the summer, European countries have implemented emergency solutions to diversify their sources of supply and replenish gas stocks in preparation for winter. At the end of the Defense Council on the energy crisis which was held on Friday, September 2, France claims to have filled its gas stocks to 92%. Same reaction across Quiévrain, reports The eveningwhere the Ministry of Energy wants to reassure, stating that “the failure of the restart of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline will not have an impact on the supply of Belgium”.
Not even afraid ?
And the Belgian title to add that “Gas traders expect prolonged Nord Stream 1 shutdown to lead to further price hike on Monday [5 septembre]without however reaching new records.” In a pitched battle, European governments therefore claim to be ready. But the damage is already there, recalls the economist Cornelia Meyer, quoted by the BBC : this energy war “already has huge consequences for gas in Europe, which is about four times more expensive than it was last year, and the cost of living will really skyrocket”.
The moment chosen by Moscow to take a new step is far from trivial, notes the British television channel: it occurs “just after Germany, which is heavily dependent on Russian gas, announced [de concert avec plusieurs pays d’Europe occidentale] that it was filling its stocks faster than expected”.
And the media to conclude:
“Cynicals might see this as a last-minute attempt to tighten the screw to inflict maximum damage during the colder months.”