German Gas Grid Deletes Incorrect Data on Russian Flows

(Bloomberg) -- Germany's grid operator deleted erroneous data posted early Wednesday that showed Russian natural gas was flowing westward again on the key Yamal-Europe pipeline after a halt of 43 days. 

Gascade had “a problem with the publication of the flow data,” it said by email. The operator is working on resolving the issue that only affected the last hour of the gas day, a 24-hour period that ends at 6 a.m.

Some capacity to send gas to Germany through the link was booked for a few hours late Tuesday, signaling that flows could resume. Data from Gascade initially showed a small amount -- 16.3 megawatt-hour per hour -- had entered the Mallnow station in Germany by 5 a.m. local time. At 6 a.m., the gas grid operator's website had been updated to show zero shipments.

Russian gas exporter Gazprom PJSC declined to comment on flows overnight, reiterating that shipments reflect requests from European buyers.

European natural gas edged higher amid the uncertainty over supplies from top provider Russia. Prices have been volatile in recent days because of tensions over Ukraine.

For the past month and a half, the Mallnow station, where the Yamal-Europe link terminates, was pumping gas eastward to Poland. Those reverse flows have also stopped since Tuesday evening. 

Russian flows through Ukraine declined on Wednesday after jumping the previous day. 

©2022 Bloomberg L.P.