Norwegian gas infrastructure operator Gassco announced on Friday that it has restarted the Kaarstoe processing plant, a critical hub for gas supplies to Germany. The company is currently increasing output following a three-week maintenance period. 'Kaarstoe is in the start-up phase after a complex and extensive maintenance shutdown,' a Gassco spokesperson stated in an email. The spokesperson also noted that any unforeseen delays in maintenance work at connected fields, pipelines, hubs, and receiving terminals could impact the processing plant's ramp-up speed. The maintenance and repair of Norway's gas infrastructure, encompassing offshore platforms, subsea pipelines, and onshore terminals, are closely monitored by the market, and unplanned outages can significantly affect prices. The Kaarstoe plant, with a full capacity of 97.6 million cubic metres (mcm) per day, had been offline for its annual maintenance since August 30 and was slated for a gradual return to service starting Friday. Following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and subsequent reductions in Russian energy shipments, Norway has become Europe's primary gas supplier. The resumption of deliveries through Kaarstoe occurs just before the official winter heating season in the European gas market, which commences on October 1 and typically experiences the year's peak demand.