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The Russia-led Nord Stream 2 consortium said on Sunday it has applied to Denmark for an alternative gas pipeline route through the Baltic Sea that would avoid the Nordic state’s territorial waters.
Denmark is facing a dilemma on whether the project can be built near its Baltic coast and its parliament may pass legislation. allowing it to veto the Nord Stream 2 pipeline going through Danish territorial waters on security grounds. Reuters reported.
Russia is keen to press ahead with the Nord Stream 2 pipeline since it has the potential to double its gas exports under the Baltic Sea to Germany. bypassing traditional routes through Ukraine with which it has poor relations.
The Danish government has come under fierce lobbying by Russia. EU allies and the United States over the €9.5 billion (£8.5 billion) Nord Stream 2 project led by Gazprom and financed by five western firms. The United States opposes the project while some East European countries fear it will make the EU a hostage to Russian gas.
But Denmark does not want to act alone and has postponed a decision on the new legislation.
Its search for a united EU stance on the proposed pipeline is also deadlocked by divisions among member states over whether to do more business with Moscow despite its military incursions in Ukraine and Syria.
US President Donald Trump last month accused Germany of being a “captive“ of Russia due to its energy reliance and said it was wrong to support the Baltic gas pipeline.
A Danish veto. under new legislation allowing it to do so on security grounds. would force Russia. which supplies about one-third of Europe’s gas needs. to find a new route for the pipeline.
“The recommendation of (Denmark’s) ministry of foreign affairs has been pending since January 2018. Therefore. Nord Stream 2 decided to explore alternative routes outside of Danish territorial waters.“ the Nord Stream 2 consortium said in a statement.
