RUSSIA has once again sent the European Union into crisis mode by turning off gas supplies flowing into Europe.
Russia
Has once again halted gas flows through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which flows to Germany through the Baltic Sea. This short-notice cut-off could be a major blow to the European Union’s efforts to stockpile energy for winter, during the bloc fears Russian President Vladimir Putin may halt gas flows entirely.
Gazprom, state-backed energy behemoth, cited a need for maintenance on its only remaining compressor.
This marks the second time in over the past few months that Moscow has halted gas flows through the pipeline, for maintenance work.
In July, Gazprom shut down flows through the Nord Stream 1 for 10 days, citing maintenance work, despite claims by Germany that the move was purely political.