The Russian gas giant in Gazprom is turning into washing machines

Gazprom, which is controlled by the country, which is controlled by the state in Russia, is restarting production in a major white commodity factory seized by the German manufacturer Bush, according to the state -run media, after the company stopped its operations in Russia in the midst of international sanctions that slapped Moscow on the Ukraine war.

Many international companies uprooted their operations from Russia, as they entered comprehensive sanctions three years ago, and Ukraine allies tried to cut Moscow’s access to the money for its war effort.

More than 1,000 international companies have reduced the operations in Russia in the midst of sanctions for more than three years of the war in Ukraine, according to the Yale School of Administration. Russia picked up many assets that left in the country.

Europe rushed widely to withdraw its dependence on Russian oil and gas in the wake of Russia’s extensive invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

A set of sanctions tried to cut Moscow’s arrival to profitable oil revenues, while the audit was also affected by the continent’s dependence on Russian gas, which led to a decrease in Gazprom profits.

Russian newspaper controlled by the state, Kommersant, It was reported on Tuesday that the domestic systems in Gazprom – a subsidiary of Gazprom – were preparing to restart household goods such as washing machines and refrigerators at a factory owned by German engineering Bush in the former imperial capital, Sant Petersburg.

The news agency in Russia reported a memorandum on the financial statements of the Russian branch of Bush – which was under the control of the family systems from JSC Gazprom for last year – “external management plans to resume production as soon as possible.”

A spokesman for Bush said Newsweek The company “no longer has any trade relations with Russia at the operating level,” and did not offer products or spare parts to Russia.

Bush said in mid -March 2022, in the weeks that follow directly Moscow’s full invasion of Ukraine, he was stopping the delivery of components to Russian customers while looking at how to use parts, including for “non -Muhaibi” purposes. The then Ukraine Minister DMYTRO KULIBA claimed that Bosch ingredients were used in Russian infantry vehicles crossing to Ukraine.

BOSCH spokesman said on Wednesday that the company “had no plans to change” its policy of not doing business with Russia, after more than three years of suspension of production in the facilities of manufacturing home appliances in St. Petersburg.

The Kremlin Decree put home gaserom systems in the “temporary administration” of the Bush Factory and a facility owned by the Italian manufacturer Ariston in 2024. Ariston said late last month that she recovered “full ownership and operational control” of the Russian Kurdish subsidiary.

“The domestic gas systems have been appointed as an official for this site,” said Bush spokesman. The spokesman added that this “forced administration” is independent of Bush, and the company was not consulted in the procedures of the subsidiary Gazprom.

“We have no effect on that,” the spokesman said.

Kommersant She stated that the Kremlin will return to the factory to Bush, if the German -based company in Russia is restarted. The state -controlled newspaper stated that the subsidiary Gazprom will be able to achieve large profits from the production lines in Saint Petersburg if the white goods are made under the Bosch brand, citing experts that they did not call.

BOSCH spokesman said that Russian Bosch systems or home systems in GazProm are “authorized to use BOSCH brand or other BSH brands.”

It can resume production early this year, the Russian newspaper said. The facilities on the STESBURG suburbs can produce more than a million home devices every year, according to Interfax.

“This is a classic issue of Russian Lawfare,” said Maria Chagina, a research colleague in the field of economic sanctions, standards and strategy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS.

“The temporary” of Russia said to Bush’s origins. Newsweek.

It is not clear what the intention behind the changes to operation in the Bush Factory, nor why is Gazprom now choosing to resume production now.

Restarting the manufacturing in the Russian city can be a play to maintain the solvent of the state -owned gas company after scathing losses of about $ 13 billion in 2024.

Shajina said: “The Nazprom resources are not great, but the production of washing machines will not re -put it in Russia,” said Shajina.

“The actions of the Russian government and the actions of Gazprom here are merely a revenge for the continuous European Union sanctions and an increasing deficiency to the white goods available in the Russian market,” added Eric Gulson, an economic war specialist and associate professor of economics at Sari University in the United Kingdom.

Gulson said it was “effective confiscation” of the Russian Bush Factory, who was executed “a promise to return it in the future.” Newsweek.

Analysts also float on the possibility that Gazprom and the Kremlin maintain the doors of a rent to Western companies in the hope that they will return to Russian territory at the bottom of the line.

During the era of President Donald Trump, the United States suggested that economic relations with Russia be rehabilitated after the ceasefire deal that has not been compensated in Ukraine intervened. “There was a possibility to reshape the relationship between Russian countries through some very convincing commercial opportunities.”

Russia represents up to 40 percent of European gas imports before 2022, a number now hovering at 11 percent, including LNG, and a large journalist specializing in energy markets with independent independent intelligence services in London (ICIS).

Other players, like the United States and Qatar, entered the European market in the years.

Some in Europe began to flirt with the idea that the continent can restart some Russian gas imports as soon as the shooting is stopped in Ukraine. Currently, only one pipeline – which stands out through Türkiye – can directly provide Russian gas to Europe.

The Nord Stream pipeline was detonated in 2022, and Ukraine refused in January to renew a transit deal that allows Russian gas to travel to the European Union countries. Another, Russia connects Poland via Belarus, not working. Veteran Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the government media last month that Moscow was holding talks with the United States on restarting the flows through the Nord stream.

Didier Holio, CEO of Engie French Energy, told Reuters in an article published on Monday that if there is a “reasonable peace in Ukraine”, “Europe can return to the flows of 60 billion cubic meters, and possibly 70, annually, including liquefied natural gas.”

In this scenario, Moscow can provide between 20 percent and 25 percent of the needs of the European Union.

But Belgium Energy Minister Matthew Beheit told Politico in an interview published on Wednesday, “It was fictional that it is from day to day, we will return to work as usual with Russia.”

The European Commission, the European Union’s executive arm, is expected to publish a long -awaited road map on how to rid itself of Russian fossil fuels by 2027 in early next month. The European Union has twice delayed the announcement of this road map since it committed the commitment to throwing Russian fossil fuels in 2022, while imports in the European Union of Russian Gas increased by 18 percent in 2024, according to Energy Think Tank Ember.

The Financial Times reported earlier this week that the European Commission was considering options to help European companies to end the long -term gas contracts with Russia while swinging mysterious sanctions on Moscow, citing three unknown officials.