Germany’s Minister of Energy has declared that Moscow must fulfil several conditions before Berlin backs the construction of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline. Sigmar Gabriel, German Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, said that Russia must make sure that a number of specific conditions are met before Germany approves the project.[1]
According to Bloomberg, the minister made this statement ahead of his meeting with Miguel Arias Canete, European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, who opposes the construction of the new pipeline as he believes that it will negatively impact Europe’s natural gas supply diversification.
Gabriel stated that Germany won’t budge until three conditions are met: the new pipeline must adhere to German regulations; it must not affect the ongoing natural gas transit through Ukraine; and its construction must not result in a decrease of natural gas supply to Eastern Europe.
The Nord Stream-2 project aims to deliver 55 billion cubic meters of Russian natural gas a year to the European Union bypassing the Baltic nations, Ukraine and Poland. Last September, Russian energy giant Gazprom and its European partner companies — E.On, Shell, OMV, BASF and Engie — signed a shareholders agreement on the project.
The project has been met with opposition from some EU member states, including Poland and the Baltic countries, over fears it would increase European energy dependence on Russia.
Furthermore, the Nord Stream-2 is also being opposed by the U.S. which considers the pipeline a threat to its plans to export large volumes of shale gas to Europe. However, rather than oppose the project directly, Washington prefers to goad other European states – for example, Poland – into taking action against the pipeline.
Note:
[1] The Nord Stream 2 twin pipelines through the Baltic Sea will have the capacity to deliver 55 billion cubic metres per year (bcm/y), doubling the capacity of the existing, twin Nord Stream pipelines, which became operational in 2011 and 2012. The Yamal gas pipeline runs from Russia to Germany via Belarus and Poland and has a capacity of 33 bcm/y. Poland acquires app 60 per cent of its natural gas supply from Russia.
Read also:
Kremlin says Putin, Juncker may discuss Nord Stream 2 at St. Petersburg Economic Forum, TASS, June 9, 2016
Estonia Considers Nord Stream 2 Project as Disruption of EU’s Unity, Sputnik, May 27, 2016
This is how Gazprom will bypass U.S. sanctions in building Nord Stream-2, Sputnik, May 21, 2016
Nord Stream 2 provides cost-effective contribution to EU climate protection target, Natural Gas Europe, June 8, 2016
Germany seeks to overcome opposition to Nord Stream 2, EurActiv.com, Jan 29, 2016
A new pipeline to double Russian gas flows to Germany will only go ahead if Russia does not cut off gas flows to Ukraine and eastern Europe, German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel told the Polish government on 29 January.
Germany says the Nord Stream 2 project will mitigate declining European gas production and the possible disruption of supplies piped via conflict-ravaged Ukraine. But the plan has bitterly divided the European Union since an outline agreement with Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom was signed in September last year…
Slovakia PM cries ‘betrayal’ over deal to build Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany, Sept 15, 2015
Will gas thaw the ice between Russia, Turkey?, by Mehmet Cetingulec, Al-Monitor, June 8, 2016
