Today, 11 July, Gazprom will turn the spigot stopping all gas flows through Nord Stream 1 to Germany.  The reason, as explained last week in the PTJ, is Nord Stream 1's annual maintenance work that will last until 21 July.

Part of the pipeline's maintenance required the repair of a turbine in Canada which powers Nord Stream's compressors. Because of the sanctions the West has levied on Russia Canada issued a "time-limited and revocable permit" exempting the turbines from the sanctions regime.

Moreover the Canadian government said shipping the equipment to Europe would support “Europe’s ability to access reliable and affordable energy as they continue to transition away from Russian oil and gas."

The Kremlin this past Friday said it would increase gas supplies to Europe if the turbine were returned.

German Chancellor Scholz expressed his "relief" that the turbine was on its way back to Nord Stream 1.