The Kremlin said today that it was up to shareholders to decide whether the Nord Stream gas pipelines damaged by explosions last year should be shut down.

Sources with knowledge of the plans told Reuters last week that the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, built by Russia’s state-owned Gazprom, are to be sealed and shut down as there are no immediate plans to repair or restart them.

Asked about this information at a regular briefing of journalists, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “Of course, this is a decision that should be made collectively by all shareholders.”

The spokesman also said the Kremlin would not issue any recommendations to Gazprom regarding the future of the undersea pipelines.

In addition to Gazprom, shareholders in Nord Stream AG, the Swiss-based operator of Nord Stream 1, are Engie, Gasunie, Wintershall DEA and E.ON.

Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, each consisting of two pipelines, were built by Gazprom to transport 110 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas per year to Germany under the Baltic Sea.

Three of the four pipelines suffered cracks from unexplained explosions in September while one Nord Stream 2 pipeline remains intact.

Gazprom has said it is technically possible to repair the damaged lines, but two sources with knowledge of the plans said Moscow does not see much chance of improving its relations with the West in the near future so that the pipelines are needed.

Europe has drastically reduced its energy imports from Russia over the past year, following Moscow’s decision to invade Ukraine on February 24, 2022.