Germany's Stance on Nord Stream 2 Gas Pipeline Remains Unchanged - Cabinet
The German government's position on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline has not changed since the project to build is commercial in nature, German Cabinet deputy spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer said on Friday, while at the same time stressing that gas transit through Ukraine should be maintained.
BERLIN (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 26th October, 2018) The German government's position on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline has not changed since the project to build is commercial in nature, German Cabinet deputy spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer said on Friday, while at the same time stressing that gas transit through Ukraine should be maintained.
"There is no new position regarding Nord Stream 2 ... I can reiterate once again the position of the government of Germany on Nord Stream 2 it remains unchanged. This is a primarily commercial project. At the same time, Germany and other EU countries are interested in Ukraine continuing to play a role in the transit of Russian gas," Demmer said at a briefing.
With the current contract for the transit of Russian gas to Europe through Ukraine expiring in late 2019, Kiev has repeatedly voiced its willingness to remain a transit country.
Kiev is concerned, in particular, over the Nord Stream 2 project since the pipeline, which is expected to deliver 55 billion cubic meters (1.9 trillion cubic feet) of Russian natural gas to the European Union annually, will bypass Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in May that Russia would not halt gas transit through Ukraine if this remained cost-effective. On October 3, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said that EU nations pledged to respect Ukraine's gas transit interests after the pipeline was built.
Nord Stream 2 is a joint venture of the Russian Gazprom energy giant with French Engie, Austrian OMV AG, UK-Dutch Royal Dutch Shell, and German Uniper and Wintershall.