Why Siemens is better to close the mitten
The whole world, without exaggeration, is watching with bated breath the scandal that broke out over the supply of turbines from the German concern Siemens to two Crimean thermal power plants in circumvention of sanctions. The intrigue around turbines began quite a long time ago - with the start of the construction of two gas turbine thermal power plants near Simferopol and Sevastopol, which should close the long-standing gaping hole in the energy shortage of the peninsula. Most of all, as usual, the topic of turbines was followed and discussed in every possible way by the figures who sat on the other side of Perekop, from the “United Krai” club.
Panov’s experts, especially those from the Crimean collaborators who came to Nenka, unanimously agreed that even if Russia builds thermal power plants in Crimea, the turbines will certainly not reach them due to sanctions. In these arguments, the former Crimean Banderlogs were not original, since they relied on the opinion of the European press, which for the fourth year was unable to find peace due to the Russian affiliation of Crimea.
While the dogs were barking, the Crimean energy caravan moved forward without unnecessary fuss and fuss. Rostec's subsidiary Technopromexport (TPE) has entered the final stage of construction in Crimea of two thermal power plants with a capacity of 470 MW each. The first current of the station should be provided in the first quarter of 2018. The matter now remains with the supply, installation and commissioning of turbines.
The information stagnation was blown up by a June message with photographs and the delivery to Crimea of two Siemens turbines, originally purchased for Taman.
In turn, Siemens will initiate an investigation and file claims with the Moscow Arbitration Court demanding the return of the turbines from Crimea.
However, this story is not so simple.
It should be recalled that the Russian turbine industry is represented by Siemens Gas Turbine Technologies LLC (Leningrad Region), a joint venture between Siemens AG and the Russian PJSC Power Machines, in which the Germans own a controlling stake of 65%.
At the beginning of March 2015, TPE and STGT entered into a contract for the manufacture and supply of SGT5-2000E turbines for the thermal power plant in Taman, a competition for the construction of which has not yet been announced. In 2016, TPE put these turbines up for auction with a starting price of 166.7 million euros, but did not receive any bids for purchase.
Simply put, Siemens chose to turn a blind eye to the possible supply of unclaimed turbines in Taman to Crimea, took the money and hoped for a Teutonic chance, believing that no one would remember the sanctions.
But it just so happened that too many unfriendly eyes are watching Crimea. The deal did not escape the attention of the Ukrainian media, which burst out with selective curses about the fact that Crimea will very soon become energy self-sufficient. Obviously, the structures associated with the Washington Regional Committee were also expecting the appearance of turbines in Crimea. The first to escalate was the European Commission, which accused Siemens of violating the sanctions regime and threatened the concern with big troubles.
For a moment: the European Commission, which should care about the interests of European companies and taxpayers, is threatening punishment for a European concern, having caved in to its Washington uncle.
Now Siemens accuses the Russians of treachery and vows “not to supply anything more to Russia” if it turns out that the turbines are Siemens. In general, the concern’s behavior in the turbine scandal resembles a cartoon crow, heart-rendingly screaming “but I’m naive, gullible.”
One more important detail. The media write that, most likely, the SGT5-2000E gas turbine was delivered to Crimea, which can rightfully be called a domestic product.
This is evidenced by the examination certificate of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of St. Petersburg, received in March 2017 and confirming that the SGT5-2000E gas turbine is equipment with localization in STGT LLC of more than 50%, manufactured in the Russian Federation and having no analogues on its territory. Moreover, this is not the limit of the level of localization.
Now, as STGT technical director Alexander Lebedev says, work continues to qualify Russian suppliers of gas turbine component blanks, such as rotor forgings and steel castings of housing components (OMZ-Spetsstal), as well as compressor blades, boiler outlet diffusers and generators ( PJSC Power Machines).
So what's wrong?
A number of observers believe that Siemens is acting more for show, as evidenced by its appeal to the Moscow Arbitration Court, and not to some Strasbourg, Stockholm or London, as the Ukrainian side, excited by the supply of turbines to Crimea, insists.
However, this whole scandal highlighted a long-standing problem created under Yeltsin and still not overcome: in a number of key industries, such as turbines for energy, electronic components, chemical technologies, machine tools, Russia remains dependent on the West, Japan, Korea, China or someone else
If under Yeltsin industry was destroyed recklessly, under the incantations of “democracy does not need all this “scoop””, then in the fat oil years the prevailing opinion was “money conquers evil - we will buy what we need.” The technological lag was what dictated the transfer of a controlling stake in the main turbine building company to the Germans.
As for Siemens, it is not their place to teach Russians good manners. If something happens, we can recall the concern’s fruitful cooperation with the Nazi regime. In the winter of 1941–1942, the German economy became entirely dependent on slave labor. Due to the flight of many German scientists from Hitler's Reich and the mobilization of the male population, German industry began to experience an acute shortage of personnel. As compensation, the Nazis launched the recruitment of scientists and skilled workers from satellite states, as well as the theft of labor from the occupied territories for forced labor in Germany.
Siemens received lucrative military orders and cheap labor from the Nazis. According to the company itself, in 1944, 20% of the Siemens workforce were concentration camp prisoners, prisoners of war, ghetto prisoners and Ostarbeiters. More than 2000 female camp prisoners worked at the Siemens factory at the Ravensbrück concentration camp. Siemens Schuckertwerke AG also owned a factory at the Bobrek concentration camp, one of approximately forty camps in the Auschwitz III concentration camp, which was part of the concentration camp complex known collectively as Auschwitz. Where the prisoners worked, there were no gas chambers, no beatings, and there was also a day off.
One should not draw far-reaching conclusions about the humanity of Siemens management from this fact. The softening of the regime occurred for reasons of pure pragmatism. Things were such that there was nowhere to get fresh personnel from German industry. Destroying “inferior” qualified engineers and workers meant killing the goose that laid the golden eggs. And in the ancient slaveholding states there was a layer of slaves who settled well under their masters, which did not change the fact of their slavery. In addition, the Siemens concern was involved in the development of crematorium ovens for the Auschwitz camp complex and the “weapons of retribution” known as V-1 and V-2.
After the war, Siemens carefully tried to cover up the sins of 1933 - 1945 and distance itself from cooperation with the Nazis, creating a fund to pay benefits to its former employees against their will. But all these post-war efforts are insignificant compared to the profits earned by the concern from slave labor and military orders. The vulnerability of Siemens lies in the fact that it is always possible to raise the case of using the labor of Soviet citizens deported to Germany. Such crimes have no statute of limitations, while the modern Siemens concern from the most democratic Europe continues to use the proceeds from slave labor earned during those times.
Who said that blood money doesn't smell even after 72 years?
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