ST. PETERSBURG (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 07th June, 2019) Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and his German counterpart, Peter Altmaier, have discussed at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum (SPIEF) Russian gas transit through Ukraine, and Novak has noted that the are several options to adapt Nord Stream 2 project to the amended EU Gas Directive, the Russian Energy Ministry said in a statement on Friday.
The Council of the European Union passed on April 15 the amendments that may affect the construction of the pipeline as they would extend EU principles on tariff regulation, ownership unbundling and transparency to all pipelines entering the bloc from non-EU countries.
"The sides have discussed Russian gas transit through Ukrainian territory. The Russian minister has also stressed that Nord Stream 2 pipeline project is being implemented despite any countering and new risks," the Russian Energy Ministry said.
Novak recalled that as of late May, 57 percent of the total length of the pipeline had been laid, the ministry added.
"As for the amendments to the EU Gas Directive that extend it to EU member states' territorial seas, preliminary analysis shows that there are several options of adapting Nord Stream 2 to the new requirements. Experts are studying them," Novak said, as quoted in the ministry's statement.
The Nord Stream 2 project envisages the building of a twin pipeline, which will deliver around 55 billion cubic meters (almost 2 trillion cubic feet) of gas directly to Germany and other European countries. The pipeline is set to pass either through territorial waters or exclusive economic zones of Denmark, Finland, Germany, Russia and Sweden. Denmark remains the only country that has not given its consent to the construction of the pipeline so far.
SPIEF is an annual business event that has been held in St. Petersburg since 1997. It started on Thursday and is due to run through Saturday. Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency is an official media partner of the forum.
