Scholz says he no longer considers Russia a reliable fuel supplier

BERLIN, Sep 4 – PRIME. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he no longer considers Russia a reliable supplier of energy resources.

“Russia, under Putin’s leadership, has become a contract-breaker and has not fulfilled its obligations under them for a long time … Russia is no longer a reliable partner in energy supplies,” he said during a joint press conference of parties in the government coalition.

According to him, the consequences of the conflict in Ukraine are felt not only by the whole of Europe, but by the whole world.

Gazprom has stopped Nord Stream indefinitely after a three-day maintenance due to a malfunction of the only working turbine. Siemens said it “took note” of the reported malfunctions, but believes that Gazprom’s conclusion is not a technical reason for shutting down the gas pipeline.

Since June, fuel pumping through this line has been reduced due to difficulties in returning gas turbines from repair due to anti-Russian sanctions. First, deliveries were reduced to 40% of the maximum capacity of the pipe, and then to 20%.

Due to problems with the supply of Russian fuel, Germany faces an energy collapse. Against this background, the country’s authorities have several times called on citizens to save energy and decided to introduce a two-year gas fee of 2.4 euro cents per kilowatt-hour. The measure will take effect from October this year.