“Impossible to disrupt”: Novak speculated about the implementation of the “Nord Stream-2” – Rosbalt

Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak is convinced that Kiev will not be able to disrupt the implementation of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline project, since it meets the requirements of the law. This was stated by the deputy chairman of the Russian government in an interview with RBC.

“We believe that this project cannot be disrupted. It was built in accordance with all the requirements of the legislation, ”the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized, expressing confidence that gas to Europe through the new pipeline will nevertheless begin to flow.

At the same time, Novak predicts, the certification of Nord Stream 2 should be completed by the end of the first half of 2022 at the most. “Of those certification schedules that I know about, it should be completed within the first half of the year. The end of the first half of the year is the maximum period, ”the deputy chairman of the government emphasized.

Recall that Nord Stream 2, which runs along the bottom of the Baltic Sea, is intended for direct delivery of gas from suppliers in the Russian Federation to consumers in Europe. The estimated capacity of the pipeline is 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year. European partners – Royal Dutch Shell, OMV, Engie, Uniper and Wintershall – are financing the project by 50% in total, that is, up to 950 million euros each. This project is an alternative option for the supply of “blue fuel” to Europe. The gas pipeline bypasses transit states – Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and other Eastern European and Baltic countries – through the economic zones and territorial waters of Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. The construction of the first string of Nord Stream 2 was completed on June 4, 2021, and the second in September.

Initially, the pipeline was planned to be completed at the end of 2019, but construction was hampered by US sanctions. Washington regards Nord Stream 2 as a threat to Europe’s energy security. In turn, Germany opposes US sanctions, considering US policy as interference in the country’s internal affairs, points out RBC.

On November 8, the deputy head of the Gazprom department, Aleksey Finikov, announced that the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline was completed and it was ready to be launched. “The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline has been completed and is ready to launch,” the top manager emphasized during a closed meeting with investors.

Meanwhile, to start deliveries, Nord Stream 2 AG must be certified as a pipeline operator. This procedure consists of two stages: first, the German regulator will develop a draft decision, then the European Commission will evaluate it. Berlin has already received a full package of necessary documents from Moscow.