Federal government stops certification of Nord Stream 2
Created: 02/22/2022Updated: 02/22/2022, 12:55 p.m
The systems of the gas receiving station of the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline are secured by high fences and a privacy screen.
© Stefan Sauer/dpa
The federal government is stopping the approval process for the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline for the time being. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) said this on Tuesday in Berlin.
Berlin - The government is specifically withdrawing a report to the Federal Network Agency.
Scholz said he had asked the Ministry of Economic Affairs to withdraw the existing report on the analysis of security of supply at the Federal Network Agency.
“It may sound technical, but it is the necessary administrative step so that the pipeline cannot be certified now.” Without this certification, Nord Stream 2 cannot go into operation, emphasized Scholz.
The responsible department of the Ministry of Economic Affairs will carry out a new assessment of the security of supply, taking into account "what has changed in the past few days," said the Chancellor.
“In this phase, it is now important, in addition to the first sanctions, to prevent further escalation and thus another catastrophe.
That is what all our diplomatic efforts are aimed at.” According to reports, Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) had such a step examined as soon as he took office.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine on Monday evening.
The Kremlin chief also ordered Russian soldiers to be sent to eastern Ukraine.
He is planning an invasion of Ukraine for the second time since 2014.
The West accuses him of violating international law.
According to Western sources, Russia has gathered about 150,000 soldiers on the border with Ukraine.
Although the 1,230 kilometer double line from Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany has been completed, no natural gas has yet flowed through the pipeline.
The certification process was recently on hold.
The Federal Network Agency suspended the procedure in November and demanded that the operating company be organized under German law.
Nord Stream 2 AG intends to meet the requirement by founding a German subsidiary.
more on the subject
Union boss: Germany still needs Russian gas
Nord Stream 2: For SPD leadership “all options on the table”
Nord Stream 2 founds German subsidiary
At a recent meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, US President Joe Biden made it clear that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would mean the end of the line that had already been completed.
dpa
