REUTERS
For Nord Stream 2 AG, this may mean the pipeline can only be half loaded.
The German Federal Network Agency has refused to exempt Nord Stream 2 from the EU Gas Directive rules.
The reason for the refusal is that the project has not been implemented until May 23, which was a condition for its exemption from restrictive rules, kommersant reported with reference to TASS.
In particular, the Directive requires that offshore pipelines coming to EU countries comply with the rules for the unbundling of gas supply and transportation, as well as for access by third parties. For Nord Stream 2 AG, this may mean the pipeline can only be half loaded.
Read alsoGermany officially supports completion of Nord Stream 2
In early May, the German government announced it intends to provide political support to companies working on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The United States earlier imposed sanctions on the project in December, demanding that the pipe-laying companies cease operations within the project immediately.
UNIAN memo. The Nord Stream 2 project envisages 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 European companies – ENGIE, OMV, Shell, Uniper, and Wintershall.
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.
On December 20, U.S. President Donald Trump enacted the U.S. defense budget for 2020, which provides, inter alia, sanctions against companies involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream pipelines. After that, the Swiss company Allseas suspended participation in the construction of Nord Stream 2.
Read alsoUkraine in talks with U.S. on how to ultimately "bury" Russia's Nord Stream 2 – Naftogaz CEO
On December 30, it became known that the company had withdrawn from participation in the project, its ships had already left the Baltic Sea.
On January 11, 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia could complete the construction of Nord Stream 2 independently, and the pipeline would start operating, most likely, in the first quarter of 2021.