INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russian energy giant Gazprom said Wednesday that delivery of a turbine needed to keep gas flowing to Europe via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline
was "impossible" due to sanctions on Moscow."Sanctions regimes in Canada, in the European Union and in Britain, as well as the
inconsistencies in the current situation concerning the contractual obligations of [turbine maker] Siemens make the delivery impossible,"
Gazprom said in a statement.The statement risks further increasing concern in European countries who suspect Moscow is looking for an excuse
to delay the turbine's return to Russia and further reduce its gas deliveries.German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Russian
President Vladimir Putin was trying to "play games with us" but said there was "no chance" he could split the Western alliance.Earlier on
Wednesday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz accused Russia of blocking the delivery of the key turbine to throttle gas supplies to Europe, as he
raised the possibility of keeping nuclear plants going.The continent's biggest economy has been scrambling for energy sources to fill a gap
prompting a drastic change in German energy policy to phase it out.The delayed return of the turbine from Canada, where the unit was being
serviced, was behind an initial reduction in gas deliveries via the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline in June, according to Gazprom.Canadian
attempt to "sow division."Supplies via the energy link were further reduced to around 20% of capacity in late July, after Gazprom halted the
operation of one of the last two operating turbines due to the "technical condition of the engine."
