“American sledgehammer”: Deputy Foreign Minister Pankin warned of new US measures against Nord Stream 2 – Rosbalt

Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Pankin does not exclude that the certification process of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline may drag on until the summer, and the United States may take new sanctions against this project.

According to the Deputy Foreign Minister, “the regulations of the procedure are such that they allow not even delaying (the certification process of Nord Stream 2 – ed.), Namely, to carry out this consideration in the first, second conditionally instance, stretching it out for many months” … “Yes, it can last until the summer,” Pankin said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

Moreover, the deputy minister admits, the certification process can be complicated by the United States. “Yes, after that there may be an American sledgehammer – why not imagine that the Americans will tell the Germans not to buy a single gram of Russian gas via Nord Stream? It may or may not be certified. They can apply anything. That is, intrigues can be at every step, ”warned the deputy head of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

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.