The major gas connection from Russia to Germany has been closed since Wednesday for maintenance. Gazprom in Russia had announced that they would reopen the flow on Saturday, but this has not been the case.

On Wednesday 31 August, gas deliveries via Nord Stream 1 from Russia to Germany closed due to maintenance. However, it was intended that the flow on Nord Stream 1 should be opened again today, Saturday. Gazprom has announced on Friday evening that they will not reopen the flow on Nord Stream 1 due to technical problems. Gazprom has not stated when they expect to open Nord Stream 1 again.

"It is of course a serious development that no gas is coming to Europe from Nord Stream 1. It shows something about how unpredictable a situation we are in. We are well prepared and have filled our warehouses with gas, and we continue to have a gas market, where the gas flows across borders. It is absolutely crucial to be able to secure the gas supply in the coming heating season," says Martin Hansen, deputy director of the Danish Energy Agency.    

Key Facts

• Nord Stream 1 shut down due to maintenance on Wednesday 31 August. Gazprom in Russia had announced that they would reopen the flow on the night between Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd September. However, this has not been the case, as, according to Gazprom, there are technical problems that must be resolved before Nord Stream 1 can be put into use again. The flow from Nord Stream 1 to Europe is therefore still closed.
• Nord Stream 1 has been running at reduced capacity in recent months. In the past month, the flow has been approx. 20 percent of normal capacity. Now the flow is completely closed.
• Denmark declared "Early Warning" on 20 June, which is the first of three crisis levels. At the last level, interventions can be made in the market.