Canada will return to Germany a repaired Russian turbine needed to maintain the Nord Stream 1 natural gas pipeline, Canada’s natural resources minister said in a statement on Saturday. The Canadian government, which is issuing a “limited and revocable permit” to exempt the return of the turbines from Russian sanctions, said the move would support “Europe’s ability to access reliable and affordable energy as it continues to move away from from Russian oil and gas”. Canada also announced it would expand sanctions against Russia’s energy sector to include manufacturing. Canada’s new sanctions “will apply to land transportation and pipelines and the manufacturing of metals and transportation, computers, electronic and electrical equipment, and machinery.” Russia’s Gazprom cut capacity along the Nord Stream 1 pipeline from Russia to Europe to just 40 percent of usual levels last month, citing a 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 “in the absence of a necessary supply of natural gas, the German economy will suffer very significant difficulties and the 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 message from Canada about a turbine needed for Nord Stream 1 maintenance. Alexandra Chyczij, national president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, said in a statement Saturday “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 first be sent to Germany, which will then deliver it to Russia’s state-controlled Gazprom, a government source told Reuters earlier this week. The decision to return the turbine had already been made, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday. The Kremlin said on Friday it would increase gas supplies to Europe if the turbine is returned. Ukraine has opposed Canada’s delivery of the turbine to Gazprom, and Kyiv believes such a move would defy sanctions on Russia, a Ukrainian Energy Ministry source said on Thursday. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Jolie said in a statement Saturday that “Canada unwaveringly supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine … Canada will not bow to pressure from the Russian regime.” (Reporting by Steve Scherer in Ottawa and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Sandra Maler, Lisa Shumaker and Chris Reese)
