‘The Turbine Works:’ Germany’s Scholz Points Finger at Russia in Energy Row

German Chancellor OIaf Scholz stands next to a gas turbine meant to be transported to the compressor station of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline in Russia during his visit to Siemens Energy's site in Muelheim an der Ruhr, Germany, on Aug. 3, 2022. Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters

MUELHEIM AN DER RUHR, Germany—German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday said Russia had no reason to hold up the return of a gas turbine for the Nord Stream 1 pipeline that had been serviced in Canada but has since been stranded in Germany in an escalating energy standoff.

Standing next to the turbine on a factory visit to Siemens Energy in Muelheim an der Ruhr, Scholz said it was fully operational and could be shipped back to Russia at any time—provided Moscow was willing to take it back.