Russian pipeline resumes pumping gas to Europe after 10-day shutdown
21 Jul
Moscow has allowed gas to flow through the biggest pipeline between Russia and Germany after it was cut off for 10 days - as the UK warned Vladimir Putin's forces were closing in on Ukraine's second biggest power plant.
Nord Stream 1 pipes in Lubmin, Germany
Nord Stream 1 pipes in Lubmin, Germany
© Reuters
The Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline has restarted after concerns Moscow would use its vast energy exports to push back against Western pressure over its invasion of Ukraine.
Gas stopped flowing through the pipeline while it was undergoing annual maintenance, and while it has now resumed, the gas flow is expected to fall well short of full capacity.
Europe remains braced for possible further supply cuts during an economic tit-for-tat with the Kremlin.
Concerns that Russian supplies of gas sent through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline could be stopped by Moscow prompted the European Union to tell member states on Wednesday to cut gas usage by 15% until March as an emergency step.
"Russia is blackmailing us. Russia is using energy as a weapon," EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, describing a full cut-off of Russian gas flows as "a likely scenario" for which "Europe needs to be ready".
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/russian-pipeline-resumes-pumping-gas-to-europe-after-10-day-shutdown/ar-AAZOHHH