Analysis indicates that Russia could be burning a surplus of almost ten million euros of gas per day

MADRID, 26 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

A study of satellite images captured by the Norwegian company Rystad Energy indicates that Russia could be burning a possible surplus of around 4.3 million cubic meters of gas per day (about ten million euros) in a new installation of liquefied gas near the border with Finland.

The images capture a huge flare that has also been sighted by Finnish residents on the border, active since July 11. Rystad Energy's vice president for gas markets, Sindre Knutsson, estimates that Russia "has already burned enough gas to supply 1.5 million European homes," according to Sky News.

Although the experts do not rule out that this burning is part of the test procedures at the Portovaya plant, they also believe that "the magnitude and duration of this continuous period of burning are quite extreme" to be simple tests.

This plant, which is located northwest of St. Petersburg and whose commissioning is scheduled for this year, is near a compression station of the 'Nord Stream 1' gas pipeline that runs from Russia to Germany.

Supply was cut off for 10 days in July while the pipeline's annual maintenance was being carried out and, although it has since resumed, the flow of gas is running at a fifth of capacity.

"We cannot know the exact reason for the burning because we have not had any communication from Russia or the (state operator) Gazprom. There are many potential reasons, but we do not know the exact one," added Knutsson.