BERLIN — Russia’s state-owned fuel monopoly, Gazprom, stated on Monday that it might additional cut back the quantity of pure fuel it sends to Germany via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, lower than per week after it resumed restricted flows after an annual upkeep shutdown.

Flows had already been reduce to 40 % of capability, however Gazprom stated that it might crimp them to 20 % beginning Wednesday, citing issues with one of many highly effective generators which can be manufactured by the German firm, Siemens Power. The generators construct stress throughout the pipeline to ship the fuel lengthy distances.

In mid-June Russia began slicing the quantity of fuel shipped via the 760-mile undersea pipeline, blaming the discount on a lacking turbine that had been shipped to Canada for repairs.

On Monday, Gazprom stated on its social media accounts that it was “shutting down yet one more fuel turbine engine produced by Siemens.”

Germany’s economic system ministry has all alongside rejected Gazprom’s argument {that a} broken turbine was accountable for restrictions in fuel flows, saying as a substitute that the cutbacks had been one other manner for Russia to punish Europe for opposing the warfare in Ukraine.

The Berlin authorities pushed again in opposition to Gazprom’s newest projected minimize.

“Based mostly on our info there isn’t a technical cause for a discount in deliveries,” the German economic system ministry stated in an announcement that adopted Gazprom’s announcement.

Observers stated the transfer smacked of President Vladimir V. Putin’s intention to make use of Russia’s vitality exports as a cudgel to punish and divide European leaders by loosening or tightening the faucets because it fits him and his warfare goals in Ukraine.

“Gazprom’s announcement shouldn’t shock,” stated Simone Tagliapietra, a senior fellow at Bruegel, a assume tank based mostly in Brussels. “Russia is enjoying a strategic sport right here. Fluctuating already low flows is best than a full cutoff because it manipulates the market and optimizes geopolitical affect.”

European Union vitality ministers are assembly in Brussels on Tuesday to debate a proposal to get residents and companies of the 27-member bloc to avoid wasting vitality. However divisions have emerged as nations, that don’t rely closely on Russian fuel, equivalent to Greece and Spain, have chafed on the concept of needing to chop consumption to assist Germany, their rich northern associate.

Earlier than Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Germany relied on Russia to offer 55 % of its general pure fuel wants. It has minimize that share to 30 % over the previous for months, however is scrambling to avoid wasting sufficient of the gas to make sure that it is going to have ample shops to get via the winter.

Hours earlier than Gazprom introduced the contemporary cuts, the top of Germany’s community regulator, Klaus Müller, stated the nation’s storage services had reached 65.9 % capability, and had been due to this fact “lastly again on monitor.” The purpose is for storage to be 75 % full by the start of September.

Gazprom’s announcement ought to have made it clear to all European Union members how essential it’s that they transfer shortly and decisively to begin saving fuel, Mr. Tagliapietra stated. “Motion on this can’t be delayed any extra.”