In Europe they began to spoil Nord Stream 2
New regulations in the EU gas directive, which are being prepared for implementation, could complicate the fate of the Nord Stream 2 project and prevent it from operating at full capacity – at least in the first few years, according to Kommersant newspaper, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent.
According to the publication, amendments to the directive contain several rules that significantly limit the capabilities of the gas pipeline. So, it says that the gas pipeline project must be brought in accordance with the rules of the internal market of the European Union.
“This means that the gas pipeline must have an operator independent from Gazprom (now this is a 100% structure of the monopoly Nord Stream-2 AG), and third parties must have access to the capacity. If the creation of an independent operator is feasible, then it is impossible to organize access for third parties, since gas can only be supplied to the Russian end of the pipe by Gazprom, as the only company with the right to export it. In this case, by analogy with the Opal gas pipeline, the European Commission may prohibit Gazprom from using Nord Stream 2 more than half, leaving the other half for potential “third parties” who are unlikely to ever appear,” the report says.
If any exceptions and deviations from the gas directive are needed for the gas pipeline, this may drag on for a long time. “The process will require interaction with the European Commission at two stages: first, it must give Germany permission to negotiate an intergovernmental agreement with Russia, and then, after their completion, permission to sign such an agreement. In both cases, the EC is required to make a decision within 90 days, but has the right to request additional information, thereby extending the time frame - perhaps by years, as was the case with Opal. Moreover, the EC can make recommendations to Germany on the text of the treaty and the inclusion of certain provisions in it... The final decision on the granting of permits will be taken through a consultation procedure with EU member states. Representatives of the countries form a committee in which the EC representative is the chairman without the right to vote, decisions are made by a simple majority.”
Gazprom has already started talking about the fact that if Nord Stream 2 is loaded at half capacity, construction of the Turkish Stream 2 gas pipeline may begin, which will go across the mainland and will not fall under the new rules.
PolitNavigator previously reported that changes to the EU gas directive will give Ukraine additional leverage. Ukraine, recognizing that Russia is failing to put alternative routes into operation, is demanding that Moscow conclude a new 10-year transit agreement on terms favorable to Kyiv.
Europe has begun to undermine Nord Stream 2.