EC to consult with Ukraine on certification of Nord Stream 2

BRUSSELS, Jan 21 (PRIME) -- The European Commission (EC) plans to consult with Ukraine about certification of Russia’s Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline, which may extend the process by two months, a spokesperson for the European Commission told PRIME on Friday.

“We can confirm that consultations will be held with Ukraine during the certification process,” the spokesperson said.

According to the law, the EC is to provide its own opinion on the certification decision of the German regulator.

“Two months after receiving the request, it should draft its opinion,” the spokesperson said, referring to EC.

‘While preparing the opinion, the European Commission can ask for opinion of an agency of an interested country-member or interested parties. If the European Commission makes this request, the two-month term should be prolonged for two more months,” the spokesperson said.

The 55 billion cubic meter Nord Stream 2 pipeline was built in September 2021. Both threads of the pipe were filled with technical gas and the pipeline is ready for operation.

Its certification by the German Federal Network Agency was halted in November because the regulator deemed it necessary for the operator to create a subsidiary in Germany and reapply for certification as an operator on its behalf as required by the European law.

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