Germany halts approval of gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 after Russia’s actions

Offshore staff

BERLIN – Germany on Tuesday halted the certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline designed to bring natural gas from Russia directly to Europe, after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized breakaway parts of eastern Ukraine and ordered troops into the region.

Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said that his country would not accept the recognition of the two self-proclaimed, pro-Russian separatist regions in the Donbas area of eastern Ukraine, and that Germany had to reassess the situation regarding Nord Stream 2.

“In light of the most recent developments we must reassess the situation in particular regarding Nord Stream 2,” Scholz said at a news conference.

Scholz said he’d asked the German Economy Ministry to take steps “to make sure that this pipeline cannot be certified at this point in time, and without this certification Nord Stream 2 cannot operate.”

“The appropriate departments of the Economy Ministry will make a new assessment of the security of our supply in light of what has changed in last few days,” he added.

Germany has been put in a difficult position over the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, with many officials in the US wanting to see the project scrapped or heavily sanctioned, according to a CNBC report. Some countries in Europe, particularly Poland and Ukraine, are vocal opponents of the pipeline and fear Russia gaining more dominance over Europe’s energy sector.

Germany has insisted that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is a commercial project, but it has inevitably been drawn into geopolitical tensions between Russia and the West that have grown since Moscow amassed more than 100,000 troops along its border with Ukraine.

02/22/2022