Less than a week after it resumed limited flows, Russia's state-owned gas monopoly, Gazprom, said it would further reduce the amount of natural gas it sends to Germany.
Flows had already been cut back to 40 percent of capacity, but starting Wednesday, they will be reduced to 20 percent due to a problem with a turbine manufactured by the German company. The gas is shipped long distances with the help of the gas turbine.
Russia began cutting the amount of gas it shipped through the undersea line in June due to a missing turbine.
On Monday, the company said on its social media accounts that it was shutting down another gas turbine engine.
Germany's economy ministry has all along rejected the idea that a damaged turbine was to blame for the restrictions in gas flows.
The Berlin government was against the cut.
The German economy ministry said there was no reason for a reduction in deliveries.
Observers said the move was part of Putin's plan to use Russia's energy exports as a cudgel to punish and divide European leaders.
Simone Tagliapietra said that the announcement should not surprise. There is a game being played by Russia. Fluctuating low flows is a better way to manipulate the market.
The European Union's energy ministers will meet in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss a proposal to save energy. Greece and Spain are not dependent on Russian gas and have objected to the idea of cutting consumption to help Germany.
Germany used to depend on Russia for 55 percent of its natural gas needs. It has reduced its share to 30 percent over the past few months in order to have enough stores to last through the winter.
The head of Germany's network regulator, Klaus Mller, said the country's storage facilities had reached 65.9% capacity and were now back on track. By the beginning of September, the goal is for the storage to be at least 75% full.
It should have been clear to all European Union members how important it is that they start saving gas quickly. The action on this can't be delayed anymore.
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