31/08/2022 (Agence Europe) – As previously announced (see EUROPE 13004/3), Russian gas giant Gazprom suspended deliveries via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline on Wednesday, 31 August, citing the need to carry out maintenance operations. With the suspension due to end on 2 September, there are fears that Moscow will extend the suspension or make additional cuts to gas. The Russian company has already warned ENGIE that it will stop deliveries altogether from 1st September, blaming the French energy group for not having made all the payments due for July. ENGIE, for its part, is speaking of a disagreement over the application of the contracts. Faced with the risk of further cuts in Russian gas supplies to Europe, the European Union is preparing itself as best it can, most notably by replenishing its gas reserves. These are now at just over 80% of their total capacity, close to the target set by the EU of 85% by November (see EUROPE 12980/3). (DG)