Ambassador sees Nord Stream-2 finished despite EU Gas Directive

BRUSSELS, Feb 14 (PRIME) -- Russia’s Nord Stream-2 natural gas pipeline will be constructed despite the new amendments to the E.U. Gas Directive, Russian ambassador to the E.U. Vladimir Chizhov told PRIME on Thursday.

“There may be different options (of applying the Gas Directive to the pipeline). But the pipeline will be constructed, don’t even doubt that,” he said.

On Wednesday, the European Parliament, the E.U. Council, and the European Commission approved amendments to the Gas Directive, stating that all pipelines from and to the E.U. should adhere to the union’s regulation, while previously it was applied only to the pipelines that run through the union’s territory. The amendments come in force 20 days after approval and publication in the E.U. Official Journal.

The Nord Stream-2 project envisages construction of two lines of a natural gas pipeline with an annual capacity of up to 55 billion cubic meters, running from the Russian shore to Germany under the Baltic Sea. Gazprom will implement the project together with Germany’s E.ON and BASF, Royal Dutch Shell, OMV, and France’s Engie.

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