Canada to return gas turbines for Nord Stream

According to Ms. Joly, the decision was made after a request from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is currently visiting Canada.

“That was our decision. That is exactly what Germany asked of us. Canada does not want to create any excuse that Russia could use and justify to continue to weaponize its energy flows to Europe,” Joly stressed.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Berlin and Ottawa would continue to work together to return the remaining turbines to the Nord Stream pipeline. Photo: Getty

Six Siemens turbines were brought to Montreal for maintenance amid Canada’s sanctions against Russia over the conflict in Ukraine. At Germany’s request, Ottawa announced an exemption for the turbines in July and sent one of them back. However, Russia’s Gazprom, which operates the Nord Stream pipeline, refused to take the turbine back due to sanctions.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Berlin and Ottawa would continue to work together to return the remaining five turbines.

Ukraine has slammed the decision to return turbines for the Nord Stream pipeline, saying it would not stop Moscow from “terrorizing” the EU by withholding gas.

Natural gas prices in Europe spiked this week after Gazprom announced it would shut down Nord Stream 1 for repairs between August 31 and September 2.

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which does not use Siemens turbines, has been completed but cannot operate because Germany refused to certify the project in protest against Russia's recognition of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic in eastern Ukraine as independent states./.