Russia is currently waiting for the European Commission and Germany to make a decision on the construction of Gazprom’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, Alexander Novak – Russian Energy Minister – stated on Thursday 27 October.
Novak stated: "The issues of the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline were discussed. This is now in the competence of the German regulator. Generally, we are constantly discussing these issues, we are awaiting particular decisions from our colleagues, both from the European Commission, and from the German regulator.”
“Politics should play no part in the Nord Stream-2 project to deliver natural gas from Russia to Northern Europe,” declares German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel.
Russia’s Gazprom signed a shareholders agreement in September with Germany’s E.ON, Shell, BASF/Wintershall, OMV, and Engie with regards to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project intended to transport gas from Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea. The pipeline will also hold a capacity of 55 billion m3/y.
However, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project has been facing challenges from the EU. It is believed that existing Russian gas pipelines already laid are more than capable of transporting the gas. Additionally, as a result, the commission had discussed the possibility of Ukraine as a reliable transit country.
"German authorities should have the final say in all legal issues. If we succeed, any external influence will be ruled out,” stated Gabriel.
“In order to limit political interference in these questions, it is necessary to settle the role of Ukraine as a transit country. This has technical reasons, and you know that the gas transportation system in Ukraine is not in a very good condition.”
Edited from source by Stephanie Roker
Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/project-news/30102015/gazprom-waiting-for-nord-stream-2-verdict/