The EU told members states on July 20 to cut gas usage by 15% until March as part of an emergency plan after President Vladimir Putin warned that Russian supplies sent via the biggest pipeline to Europe could be reduced further.

Deliveries via Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which accounts for more than a third of Russian gas exports to the EU, are due to resume on July 21 after a 10-day halt for annual maintenance.

But supplies via that route had been reduced even before the maintenance outage in dispute over sanctioned parts and may now be cut further, while flows via other routes, such as Ukraine, have also fallen since Russia invaded its neighbor in February.

The disruptions have hampered Europe's efforts to refill gas stores before winter, raising the risk of rationing and another hit to fragile economic growth if Moscow further restricts flows in retaliation for western sanctions over the war in Ukraine.

The European Commission proposed a voluntary target for all EU states to cut gas use by 15% from August to March, compared with their average consumption in the same period in 2016-2021.

"Russia is blackmailing us. Russia is using energy as a weapon. And therefore, in any event, whether it's a partial, major cut-off of Russian gas or a total cut-off of Russian gas, Europe needs to be ready," EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

The proposal would enable Brussels to make the target mandatory in a supply emergency, if  the EU declared a substantial risk of severe gas shortages.

The move, which needs the backing of EU states, will be discussed on July 22 so ministers can approve it at an emergency meeting on July 26.

"We believe that a full disruption is likely, and it is especially likely if we don't act and leave ourselves vulnerable to it," one EU official said. "If we wait, it will be more expensive and it will mean us dancing to Russia's tune."

EU states are trying to ensure storage facilities are 80% full by Nov. 1, from about 65% now, data shows.

European politicians say Russia is using technical issues as a pretext to reduce deliveries. The Kremlin says Russia remains a reliable energy supplier and has blamed reduced flows on sanctions.

Two Russian sources familiar with Russia's export plans said flows via Nord Stream 1 were expected to restart on time on July 21 after being halted on July 11 for annual maintenance.

But they said it would below its capacity of 160 MMcm/d.

Kremlin-controlled Gazprom cut gas exports via the route to 40% capacity in June, blaming delays on the return of a turbine that Siemens Energy was servicing in Canada.

Further reductions

That turbine, which was caught up in sanctions, was reported this week to be on its way back, although Gazprom said on July 20 it had not received documentation to reinstall it and said the turbine's return and maintenance of other equipment was needed to keep the pipeline running safely.

Putin suggested there might be a further reduction in supplies via the pipeline that runs under the Baltic Sea to Germany, Europe's economic powerhouse which has relied heavily on Russian fuel, adding to European supply concerns.

Gas prices have rocketed in volatile trade since the Ukraine crisis erupted. The front-month gas contract climbed above 160 euros per megawatt hour (MWh) on July 20, 360% up on a year ago but below its March peak of 335 euros.

The surge in price has squeezed utility companies, triggering bankruptcies. In Germany, the government plans to inject billions of euros into the country's biggest buyer of Russian gas, Uniper.

Putin said there were five gas pumping units, operated by Siemens Energy at Nord Stream 1 and one more unit was out of order due to "crumbling of inside lining."

"There are two functioning machines there; they pump 60 million cubic metres per day... If one is not returned, there will be one, which is 30 million cubic metres. Has Gazprom something to do with that?" he said.

Putin said one more of the gas pumping turbines was due to be sent for maintenance on July 26.

He also said Gazprom, which has a monopoly on Russian gas exports by pipeline, was not to blame for the reduction of gas transit capacity via a network of pipelines to Europe.

He blamed Kyiv for closing one route via Ukraine, although Ukraine's authorities blame the shutdown on Russia's invasion.

Siemens Energy said maintaining turbines for the Nord Stream 1 would normally be a routine matter. It said it would continue maintaining equipment under sanctions if possible and where required, and it would work as fast as it could.

In a pivot east, Gazprom said on July 20 Russian gas supplies heading to China via its Power of Siberia pipeline hit a new daily record. Moscow has been expanding capacity to supply China even as deliveries to Europe dwindle, although Russia's far east network is not connected to the European supply system.

European nations, meanwhile, have been chasing alternative supplies, although the global gas market was stretched even before the Ukraine crisis, with demand for the fuel recovering from the pandemic-induced downturn.

Those efforts have included seeking more gas from suppliers linked to Europe by pipeline, such as Algeria, and by building or expanding more LNG terminals to receive shipments from much further afield, such as the United States.

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