Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder believes that Germany needs Nord Stream 2 because it will not be able to cover its energy needs during the transition from conventional to renewable sources
“We already have Nord Stream 1″, which transports 55 billion cubic metres of gas from Russia to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. And we need a second line”, – said Schröder.
He said this is linked to Germany’s withdrawal from nuclear power and plans to abandon coal power.
“It is clear that we have to rely on renewables, but they will not be sufficient to supply our economy with affordable energy for the foreseeable future”, – said the former chancellor. – “We need a transition period – within 10, 20 or 30 years, and no one can really estimate it for sure – for the only sensible, environmentally friendly conventional energy carrier: gas. And we have to ask ourselves the question – where are we going to get it from?”