The EU’s executive body announced on Friday that sanctions imposed on Russia will not prevent the shipment to Moscow of a Siemens Energy turbine needed to increase the capacity of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, which carries Russian gas to Germany and is currently operating at only 20% capacity. reports EFE agency.

“There is nothing in the sanctions that would prevent the Siemens turbine from reaching Russia. Everything else that will be said on this topic is simply incorrect,” European Commission spokesman Eric Mamer said at the press conference, Agerpres reports.

The reaction of the community’s executive committee came after Russian giant Gazprom said this week that Western sanctions were preventing turbine access to the Nord Stream gas pipeline’s Portova compressor station, which continues to operate at only 20% capacity.

“This is just an excuse,” added the EC spokesman, who recalled that Brussels has repeatedly accused Russia of “blackmailing with gas.”

What does the European Commission say about sanctions against Russia

The commission says that “the sanctions do not affect goods or technologies related to the industry or transport of natural gas in the EU” and that “Nord Stream is not subject to any sanctions,” competition spokeswoman Arianna Podesta said.

In this way, the community’s executive body complements German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who this week visited the Siemens Energy plant in Mülheim (western Germany), where the turbine is located, and assured that it is “ready for transportation.”

Gazprom completely suspended gas supplies for ten days in July, citing the need for repair work and the absence of a turbine.

Supplies have been restored, but only at 20% of the gas pipeline’s capacity, and Moscow insists on the argument because of “technical problems”, writes EFE.

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