The European Commission believes Russian giant Gazprom is blocking gas supplies through the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline under false pretexts, a Commission spokesperson said Friday on Twitter.
“Gazprom’s announcement this afternoon that it is once again shutting down Nord Stream 1 under fallacious pretenses is another confirmation of its unreliability as a supplier,” Chief spokesperson Eric Mamer tweeted.
“It’s also proof of Russia’s cynicism, as it prefers to flare gas instead of honouring contracts,” he added.
Nord Stream 1 was due to be back in service on Saturday after several days’ maintenance, but Gazprom announced on Friday evening that an oil leak had been discovered at the Portovaja compressor station.
The pipeline will remain closed until it is repaired, it said.
