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Controversial Baltic Sea Pipeline: Nordstream 2 is now a fact

2021-09-11T16:53:15.898Z


The heavily criticized gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea is ready. The task now is to control the political consequences: Ukraine is potentially losing billions because transit fees are no longer applicable.


Enlarge image

The laying vessel "Audacia" from the offshore service provider Allseas laid the pipes for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the Baltic Sea

Photo: Bernd Wüstneck / dpa

When building the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Russia has always relied on the principle of a fait accompli: Although the permits are still pending, the Russian company Gazprom has already stacked thousands of pipes on Rügen and on the Russian coast.

It was a risky game for years.

Until recently, Eastern European countries and the USA stood up to the billion-dollar project with all their might.

Unimpressed by this, Gazprom laid the pipes in the Baltic Sea and completed the pipeline.

Now this year 5.6 billion cubic meters of gas will come through the pipe from Russia to Germany, as the company announced at the end of August.

This completes the alternative route, which is intended to partially replace the old lines in Poland and the Ukraine.

The project has now progressed so far that even the USA seem to give in.

High-ranking US envoy Amos Hochstein said on Saturday that he had made assurances to Ukraine and Poland to weaken Russia's economic blackmail.

However, the pipeline is now "reality".

Ukraine will lose billions in revenue if Russian gas flows through the Baltic Sea instead of Ukraine.

The government of President Volodymyr Zelenskyj fears that Russia will use the fees as a means of political pressure.

Ukraine's current transit agreement with Russia expires in 2024.

After all, there is still "air" until 2024 to ensure that Ukraine can continue to count on the revenue from the transit fees, according to the senior advisor to the US State Department.

However, he called on the country to switch to alternative energy sources at the same time.

Just a few weeks ago, Amos Hochstein was appointed top advisor on energy security by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

He should endeavor to »reduce the risks« of the German-Russian gas pipeline Nord Stream 2.

Hochstein is known for his critical stance towards Russia.

"I am 100 percent confident that we will do everything and that the Germans will do everything to ensure that the transit continues," said Hochstein.

Merkel wants to prevent "hybrid warfare"

Chancellor Angela Merkel also wants a contract for Russian gas deliveries through Ukraine after 2024 as soon as possible. Such an agreement should ensure that gas deliveries "cannot be used for hybrid warfare," she said on Saturday in Warsaw after a meeting with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

"I understand Ukraine's concerns," she emphasized in the face of criticism from Poland.

She pointed out that not only German, but several European companies are involved in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

With their agreement, the USA and Germany wanted to ensure that Ukraine would remain a gas transit country even after Nord Stream 2 went into operation.

"Guarantees for gas transport through Ukraine are an element to minimize the risk of possible Russian blackmail," said Poland's Prime Minister Morawiecki.

sug / Reuters

Source: spiegel

All business articles on 2021-09-11

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