European gas consumers remained braced midweek for the possibility that Russian gas flows through the Nord Stream pipeline might not restart on Thursday morning when maintenance on the key natural gas link between Russia and Germany is due to end.
However, at the time of publishing, fears that supplies would be reduced were allayed slightly after Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated in Tehran late Tuesday that state gas giant Gazprom will resume supplies, albeit at a reduced rate.
Implying insider knowledge of the situation at the Portovaya compressor station on the Baltic Sea coast, Putin said: “There are two functioning machines there, they pump 60 million cubic metres per day.
