Klaus Ernst, head of the Bundestag’s energy committee, said that the certification of Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will not be completed until next year
“I am not sure that Germany will start receiving gas through the pipeline before the end of this year. There are two reasons for that. The German Federal Network Agency has until January 2022 to examine the certification of the pipeline. After that, the European Commission has another four months to give its verdict”, – Ernst told the publication.
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is built from the Russian coast to Germany through the Baltic Sea. Its total capacity is about 55 billion cubic metres of gas a year. Earlier Nord Stream 2 AG, the operator of the project, reported that the first string of the pipeline has already been filled with technical gas. However, the timing of Nord Stream 2’s commissioning depends solely on European regulators.
Ernst added that energy policy in Europe is still shaped by different interest groups, making a unified approach impossible. The politician explained that many politicians refuse to recognise the fact that Russia “has always been a reliable energy supplier and that NSP2 will therefore continue a successful energy partnership”.
“The European Commission’s verification that will follow is even more problematic. Since NSP2 unfortunately has many political opponents, all these months could be wasted. Consumers in Europe, suffering from high gas prices, will find it difficult to cope”, – said Jan Nolte, a member of the Bundestag for the Alternative for Germany.