Iran Energy News Oil, Gas, Petrochemical and Energy Field Specialized Channel
Related Articles
Head of Germany’ European People’s Party (EPP) Manfred Weber has urged to put to a halt the construction of Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline if situation near the borders of Ukraine further aggravates.
Thus, the European Union should send an “unequivocal message” to Moscow, the legislator told Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland on April 19.
Weber considers Russia a real threat to the EU and the West since it stood behind a series of cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns.
If the situation in eastern Ukraine escalates, Nord Stream 2 could no longer be laid, he said.
Nord Stream 2: Background
• The Nord Stream 2 project envisages the construction and operation of two gas pipeline branches with a total throughput capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year from the coast of Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany. It should connect Russia’s Ust-Lug and Germany’s Greifswald. This new pipeline bypassing Ukraine is to be built next to the existing Nord Stream 1 pipeline.
• The construction of the pipeline was expected to be completed before the end of 2019.
• The pipeline will be 1,220 km long. The project is being implemented by Russia’s Gazprom in alliance with a number of European companies. Ukraine stands against the construction of Nord Stream 2 as it will most likely lose its status of a gas transit country, while its potential revenue losses are estimated at US$3 billion annually. The project is also highly criticized by the U.S., Poland, and the Baltic States.
• The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline has already been completed by more than 90%.
• The United States has imposed a series of sanctions against Nord Stream 2 and has repeatedly called on European allies and private companies to stop the related works.
• On January 7, 2021, a fund was established in Germany to support the completion of the Nord Stream 2 project.
• Eighteen companies have already refused to participate in the project or are planning to do so because of the sanctions.
• On February 6, 2021, Nord Stream 2 AG announced it would continue to lay the pipes under the project.
• On March 14, 2021, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans said that Europe did not need the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Despite this, Germany continues to insist on the completion of the project.
• On March 19, 2021, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on the companies involved in the construction of Nord Stream 2 to immediately halt laying pipes, threatening new sanctions.
