The controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is supposed to bring gas from Russia to Germany bypassing Ukraine. Despite the lack of an operating permit, one section of the pipeline has been filled.
According to the Russian energy giant Gazprom, the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which has not yet been certified, is ready to go. The second line is completely filled with technical gas, said CEO Alexej Miller of the Interfax agency.
The procedure was concluded at noon. “This new line will certainly help to stabilize prices on the European market,” said President Vladimir Putin with a view to high gas prices. As soon as Germany opens operations, more gas will flow to Europe – and that will lower prices on the European spot market.
Gas deliveries for the Russian market have priority, Putin said. “But Russia has the opportunity to increase its gas exports.” According to Miller, gas storage facilities in Europe are 44 percent full, and 47 percent in Germany. Gazprom has not been pumping gas through the Russian-European Yamal pipeline for days.
Nord Stream 2 is supposed to bring gas from Russia to Germany bypassing Ukraine. The Baltic Sea pipeline was completed weeks ago, but is not yet in operation.
Approval in the next six months?
Russia expects an operating permit within the next six months. According to the deadlines known to him, the process for the certification of the tubes should be completed in the first half of the year, said the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Nowak, who is responsible for energy issues, of the Russian newspaper “RBK”.
“We believe that this project cannot be made to fail,” said Nowak. It was built in accordance with all legal requirements. “There was a lot of resistance.”
The project is controversial. The US government criticizes that Europe is making itself too dependent on Russia for its energy supply. The financially weak Ukraine is urgently dependent on the billions in revenue from the transit fees for gas transit and now fears high losses.
Source From: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
