Putin’s spokesman says no pauses in launch of Nord Stream 2

MOSCOW, Oct 1 (PRIME) -- There will be no pauses in the launch of Russia’s Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline due to the transition of power in Germany, but swift and less swift scenarios are still possible, President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday.

“The thing is that all authorities and government agencies continue working in Germany, including the authorities that are to certify the facility,” he said.

“We expect no pauses in work there, everything is going on as usual. Like we said before, swift scenarios and not so swift scenarios are possible.”

Elections to the German parliament took place on September 26, and the political parties are in negotiations on creation of a coalition.

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. Russian gas giant Gazprom is implementing the project together with Germany’s Uniper and Wintershall Dea, Royal Dutch Shell, Austria’s OMV, and France’s Engie. The project is strongly opposed by the U.S. and several European states.

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