German engineering giant Siemens plans to conduct a careful investigation and clarify the situation concerning deliveries of turbines to Crimea reported by the media.

Siemens said in a statement that it does not have any credible evidence about actual deliveries of its turbines to Crimea, but is taking this unconfirmed information seriously and has already set up a taskforce on the issue that has begun a careful investigation to clarify the actual situation.

If recently bought turbines were rerouted to Crimea, this would be a clear violation of contractual obligations, the company said.

Siemens said it repeatedly warned its customer that the company complies with all export control restrictions. Siemens said it has taken all possible legal measures and will take operational measures to prevent the equipment from being used unlawfully. The company will not supply components or services for installation, commission or warranty. Siemens said it will continue to cooperate with all stakeholders.

The statement did not name the customer to which the turbines were delivered.

Western media, citing unnamed sources, reported earlier that there were plans to install Siemens turbines at power plants in Crimea, but if the German company supplied the equipment it would be in breach of sanctions imposed by the European Union, which does not recognize the Russian status of the Black Sea peninsula. Siemens categorically denied plans to supply its turbines to Crimea.

Reuters, citing sources, reported on Wednesday that turbines made by Siemens were delivered to Crimea. A representative of the company in Munich said that the company did not deliver turbines to Crimea and is complying with all export control restrictions. Two SGT5-2000E turbines were unloaded at the port of Sevastopol, Reuters said.

Russian power plant builder Technopromexport (TPE), which is building the plants in Crimea, issued a statement on Thursday saying that it acquired four gas turbine sets for the Crimean power plants on the secondary market. TPE said it modernized the turbines at Russian plants with the help of Russian engineering companies. The project initially factored in certain technical solutions, and the acquired turbines had to be brought in line with the initial conditions and requirements of the project.

The Sevastopol combined cycle thermal power plant is being built in the Balaklavsky district of the city. Both the first and second phases consist of a gas turbine unit with capacity of 235 MW. A similar power plant with the same capacity is being built in Simferopol.