Siemens Energy says Gazprom forms needed to deliver Nord Stream 1 turbine

FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Siemens Energy said on Monday a turbine that Moscow says is limiting capacity on the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline was ready to be delivered, but Russia’s Gazprom needed to provide customs documents for the transfer to go ahead.

“The transportation of the turbine could start immediately. The German authorities provided Siemens Energy with all the necessary documents for the export of the turbine to Russia at the beginning of last week,” the company said.

“Gazprom is aware of this. What is missing, however, are the customs documents for import to Russia. Gazprom, as the customer, is required to provide those,” the company added.

Gazprom did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Siemens Energy has been servicing the turbine in Canada and is tasked with transporting it back to Russia, a process that has proven difficult as Moscow is demanding specific documents that show the transfer does not violate sanctions.

The German company’s comments come shortly after Gazprom, which majority-owns Nord Stream 1, announced it would switch off another turbine and that this would cut capacity of the pipeline to 20% from July 27, down from 40% currently.

“The maintenance of our turbines is and remains a routine procedure. During the last 10 years of maintenance there have been no significant complications,” Siemens Energy said.

“Any future maintenance work can be facilitated: The Canadian government has already agreed that the turbines, which are maintained by Siemens Energy in Montreal, can be transported from Canada to Germany. At this point in time, we thus see no link between the turbine and the gas cuts that have been implemented or announced.”

(Reporting by Christoph Steitz; Editing by Tom Sims and Mark Potter)