Czech Republic says signs mild version of anti-Nord Stream-2 letter

PRAGUE, Mar 22 (PRIME) -- The Czech Republic has signed only a “mild version” of a letter by 10 E.U. countries opposing Russia’s Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline project, Czech Industry and Trade Minister Jan Mladek told PRIME in an interview released Tuesday.

“We do not want to be dependent only on Nord Stream (pipelines), but prefer the existence of two gas supply lines – through the territory of Ukraine and through the Baltic Sea,” he said.

Ten E.U. countries have recently sent a letter to the European Commission saying that the Nord Stream-2 project was adverse to the interests of the E.U.

The Nord Stream-2 project envisages construction of two lines of a gas pipeline with a capacity of up to 55 billion cubic meters of gas annually, running from the Russian shore to Germany under the Baltic Sea. Russian gas giant Gazprom will hold 50% in the project, while E.ON, BASF, Royal Dutch Shell, and OMV will own 10% each, and Engie will get a 9% stake.

Mladek also said that the Czech Republic was keeping interest in extension of the Temelin nuclear plant, but it is necessary to solve financing issues at first.

He also said that talks on restructuring Russian railway equipment and tank maker Uralvagonzavod’s (UVZ) debt to the Czech Export Bank were being held successfully. He said it was more difficult to find a decision on collecting debts connected with construction of thermal power plants in the Vologda Region and the city of Salekhard in northern Russia.

Russia has always been an important market for the Czech Republic and Czech firms keep interest in promoting their goods and services on the Russian market, Mladek also said.

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