Peskov: Russia sees no politics in NStream-2 certification halt

MOSCOW, Nov 17 (PRIME) -- Russia sees no political agenda in German regulator’s decision to suspend certification of Nord Stream-2 operator, presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday.

“No, absolutely not. There are protocols, norms of European legislation on this matter,” Peskov said, when asked about whether politics is involved in the regulator’s decision.

On Tuesday, Germany’s Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur, or BNetzA, BNA) suspended certification of Nord Stream 2 AG, the operator of Russia’s Nord Stream-2 natural gas export pipeline. Nord Stream 2 AG said in a statement that it is creating a subsidiary in Germany to ensure compliance with the laws and regulations.

“The project is important for Russia and the European consumers, but after all it’s up to the regulator (to decide on the date of the launch), we can’t interfere with that. The question about the timing of the launch should be addressed to the regulator,” Peskov said.

According to sources, gas pumping via the pipeline may be launched in early 2022.

The press secretary dismissed claims that there is correlation between certification and the energy crisis in Europe, as “The operating company (Nord Stream 2 AG) complies with all necessary requirements of the regulator … These are two processes, although in the same area, but they are not interdependent.”

Peskov said that Gazprom is most trustworthy.

“Gazprom fulfils all contracts to the maximum, its reliability as a gas supplier to Europe is confirmed daily,” he said.

According to Peskov, increasing Russian gas supplies to Europe via the existing routes to remedy the gas crisis depends not on Gazprom’s will, but on consumer requests and Gazprom’s capability of expanding gas pumping, and this is a purely commercial issue.

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