Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Energy issues between Russia and Europe are getting hotter and hotter. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has accused Russia of blocking the delivery of turbines needed to move gas through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Europe.

According to Scholz, the unit was “available and functional”. He said this as he stood next to the turbine during his visit to energy maker Siemens on Wednesday (08/03/2022).

“There’s no reason this delivery can’t happen,” Scholz said. AFP.

He added that the turbines had received “all approvals” required for export from Germany to Russia.

“Pipeline operators simply need to say they want to own the turbine and provide the necessary customs information for transport to Russia,” Scholz said. “Moving lost units to Russia is very easy.”

Earlier, Russia’s biggest gas company, Gazprom, blamed the delay in returning the unit from Canada, where it was served, to an initial reduction in gas deliveries through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline.

Germany, which relies heavily on Russian gas, rejected the decision to limit supplies as part of the policy.

Germany has also been trying to stop Russian energy imports since the attack on Ukraine in February. Amid the scramble for other energy sources by Europe’s biggest economy, Scholz said it was ‘reasonable’ to keep Germany’s three remaining nuclear power plants operating, even though it had been planned since long to stop by the end of the year.

The government said it would await the results of a further “stress test” of the national power grid before deciding whether to stick with the shutdown.

Extending the life of the plant has sparked heated debate in Germany, where parties in the Scholz coalition are divided on the issue.

Russia previously cut gas supply through Nord Stream 1, its main gas pipeline to Europe, to just 20%. Moscow said turbines sent to Canada for maintenance had not returned and other equipment also needed repairs.

[Gambas:Video CNBC]