Nord Stream 1, the largest single pipeline carrying natural gas from Russia to Germany, started its annual maintenance on 11 July 2022, with flows expected to stop for 10 days. Operator Nord Stream AG confirmed that the shutdown started as planned at 6.00 am (Central European Time) and that gas flows would drop to zero soon after.
The ongoing war in Ukraine raises concerns among European authorities, markets and companies that the shutdown might be extended, in the context of very strained relations with Russia. Simultaneously to the shutdown, Italian energy group Eni announced that it will receive about a third less gas from Russia's Gazprom on Monday compared to the average volumes supplied over the last few days (21 mcm/d compared to 32 mcm/d).
In June 2022 Gazprom had reduced gas supplies over the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to 67 mcm/d (24.5 bcm/year).
The Nord Stream twin pipeline system, which comprises two 1,224-km offshore pipelines with a combined capacity of 55 bcm/year. The system is operated by Nord Stream, a Swiss company owned by Gazprom (51%), Wintershall Dea (15.5%), E.ON (15.5%), Gasunie (9%) and Engie (9%).