Nord Stream 2 certification: Russia increases pressure on Germany

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Nord Stream logo on a piece of pipeline in Russia (archive image)

Photo: Maxim Shemetov / REUTERS

The ambiguity may not be a coincidence. "Germany has set deadline for certification of Nord Stream 2," the state news agency RIA wrote about a report with statements by a top Russian diplomat (click here for the original Russian report). Even if there are no indications of a tough Russian ultimatum in the quotes from Vladimir Tschischow, Russia's ambassador to the EU, given in the text himself: The message has been set, Moscow wants more speed with the pending certification of the controversial Baltic Sea pipeline.

The RIA quotes the diplomat as saying that the pipeline has already been built and one line has already been filled with gas.

Now "the ball is in the goal of the German supervisory authorities."

They now officially have until January 8th to decide on the certification.

Should the German authority decide "to do this earlier, it is of course better for the end user," said Tschischow.

Allegations from Great Britain

Gas prices are currently rising rapidly in the EU.

Politicians and some experts blame Russia for this: The Russian state monopoly Gazprom is holding back available gas quantities in order to achieve faster commissioning of Nord Stream 2 with the price pressure.

The pipeline, which is around 1200 kilometers long, is intended to transport gas from Russia to Germany.

The Federal Network Agency is currently examining the application for certification.

In particular, it is a question of whether the operators comply with the EU rules on unbundling, according to which gas production and gas transport must be separated.

Most recently, the British State Secretary Theodore Agnew blamed Moscow for the sharp rise in gas prices.

“The current rise in gas prices has nothing to do with the amount of gas available.

It is a geopolitical move by Russia to put pressure on Europe, ”said Agnew in the House of Lords last week.

Great Britain is particularly hard hit by the rise in gas prices because the country only has small reserves.

Private households in the Kingdom are protected from excessively high prices by a state cap.

In the meantime, however, several energy suppliers had to file for bankruptcy because they had to pass on gas for less than they bought it.

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