Explainer-Nord Stream turbine rigidity places concentrate on gasoline pipeline components By Reuters

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Pipes on the landfall amenities of the ‘Nord Stream 1’ gasoline pipeline are pictured in Lubmin, Germany, March 8, 2022. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Rigidity over big generators that Moscow blames for the discount of flows by way of the Nord Stream 1 gasoline pipeline has put the concentrate on the tools it must function.

The essential half is SGT-A65 (Trent 60), a Siemens Power turbine that’s 12 metres lengthy, weighs 20 tonnes, and must be transported again to Gazprom (MCX:)’s Nord Stream Portovaya compressor station following upkeep in July.

The St. Petersburg-based firm has stated Canadian, EU and UK sanctions make supply of a Siemens turbine to the Portovaya compressor station unattainable.

And on Friday, Russia scrapped a Saturday deadline to renew gasoline flows by way of Nord Stream 1 after saying it had found a fault throughout upkeep, deepening Europe’s difficulties in securing gas for winter.

Gazprom Chief Govt Alexei Miller stated on Wednesday that sanctions meant Siemens Power couldn’t perform common upkeep.

Siemens Power, which usually companies Nord Stream 1 generators, stated it was not concerned in upkeep work now being performed by Gazprom. It has additionally stated it was prepared to assist if wanted and has stated upkeep was excluded from sanctions.

Gazprom, the state-controlled agency with a monopoly on Russian gasoline exports by way of pipeline, stated it might now not present a timeframe for restarting deliveries after discovering an oil leak that meant a turbine couldn’t run safely

Gazprom had beforehand introduced a three-day shutdown from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2 as a result of the one remaining gasoline compressor working at Portovaya required upkeep.

It had already stopped gasoline provides by way of the route for 10 days for annual upkeep final month, resuming the flows at decrease than regular ranges on July 21.

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

President Vladimir Putin says the West has unleashed an financial battle aimed toward destroying Russia and its financial system, and has promised to promote Russia’s huge power sources to nations in Asia, reminiscent of China, if European clients don’t want them.

Gazprom has decreased flows by way of Nord Stream 1, the only greatest pipeline carrying Russian gasoline to Germany, to twenty% of capability due to what it describes as defective tools, notably the SGT-A65 turbine whose return has been delayed.

Russia has stated that the one one SGT-A65 gasoline pumping unit – certainly one of six usually obtainable on the station – had been operational earlier than it shut Nord Stream for upkeep on Wednesday.

Germany has stated the delayed turbine, which has been stranded after upkeep in Canada, is a pretext, and that Moscow is utilizing gasoline as a political weapon. “They do not even have the heart to say ‘we’re in an financial battle with you’,” German Economic system Minister Robert Habeck stated final month.

Gazprom has additionally halted one other Siemens Power gasoline turbine on the station, citing routine upkeep and the “technical situation” of the engine. Presently, just one turbine is in operation.

TURBINES AND COMPRESSORS

Eight industrial aeroderivative gasoline generators have been initially manufactured by Rolls-Royce (OTC:) for the Portovaya station. Rolls-Royce’s gasoline turbine-making operations have been purchased by Siemens Power in 2014.

These generators are wanted to energy driving centrifugal compressors, which elevate strain by condensing gasoline volumes to make sure clean transport of the gas.

Rystad Power analyst Lu Ming Pang stated the items require upkeep after 34 months of operation.

“Like the upkeep from 12 July to 21 July, market individuals are cautious of the chance that the flows could not return on schedule, if in any respect,” he stated.

In line with Gazprom, six of the gasoline pumping items at Portovaya have a capability of 52 megawatts (MW) every, whereas two items have a capability of 27 MW every.

As well as, there are 4 spare generators on web site to make sure the station retains pumping if some tools has to go away the location for upkeep, which normally occurs each two-to-three years, an individual conversant in the matter stated.

Two of the six massive items could keep idle with out lowering the station’s capability, a supply conversant in how the station operates stated.

Gazprom has not replied to questions on Nord Stream 1 operations.

WHAT’S PORTOVAYA?

The Portovaya compressor station is situated close to the Russian metropolis of Vyborg on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, the place the Nord Stream 1 gasoline pipeline enters the Baltic Sea.

The station pumps throughout the Baltic Sea by way of Nord Stream 1’s 1,224 km (760 mile) undersea path to the place it makes landfall in Germany’s Greifswald. Gazprom calls Portovaya the world’s largest compressor station.

Nord Stream 1 has a nameplate capability of 55 billion cubic metres (bcm) per 12 months. Nonetheless, the pipeline pumped greater than 59 bcm in 2020 and 2021 after measures have been taken to lift capability, representing greater than a 3rd of Russia’s complete gasoline provide to the European Union.

Portovaya reached a each day document of just about 177 million cubic metres per day in 2020.

RUSSIAN TURBINES

Russia produces generators with a most capability of 25 MW.

Engineering firm Energy Machines is growing two varieties of turbine with capacities of 65 MW and 170 MW every, it stated.

The 65 MW turbine is predicted to begin working in testing mode solely in 2024, and the opposite later in 2022 or in 2023.

Russian Business and Commerce Minister Denis Manturov stated in a speech final month in parliament that Russia was rushing up trials of the big generators “within the pursuits of the Russian energy sector”.