German chancellor suspends Nord Stream 2 over Russian aggression
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 had to reassess the situation regarding Nord Stream 2 saying after Russia’s recognition of the two self-proclaimed, pro-Russian separatist regions in the Donbas area of eastern Ukraine.
“In light of the most recent developments we must reassess the situation in particular regarding Nord Stream 2,” Scholz said at a news conference. He 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.”
Scholz ordered the country’s economy ministry to initiate steps to effectively put the certification process. “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 said.
The $11 billion pipeline is designed to double the amount of gas flowing from Russia to Germany but German regulators had yet to give the green light to the pipeline to allow it to operate.
Germany faced a difficult position over the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline as opponents criticised Nord Stream 2 on environmental, geopolitical and security grounds. Many officials in the U.S. and in European countries wanting to see the project scrapped or heavily sanctioned.
Germany is among the world’s biggest natural gas importers and imports around 95 percent of gas to meet its needs. About half of the natural gas used in Germany comes from Russia.
