U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has threatened Gazprom with sanctions, if the gas pipeline “Nord stream — 2” will be completed. In response, a member of the state Duma Committee for energy, Igor Ananskikh noted the vagueness of wording from the American side, and also reminded that the pipeline is not owned by “Gazprom”.
If Russia will complete the construction of the gas pipeline “Nord stream — 2” in respect of “Gazprom” will automatically be entered approved in December last year, the sanctions, the newspaper writes Atlantic Council, citing the Senator from Texas, Ted Cruz.
According to Republicans, the U.S. government endorsed the restrictive measures against the Russian gas pipeline, and, if laying vessel “Akademik Chersky” will finish the thread, the head of the White house Donald trump will be required to activate the sanctions.
“it is not clear whether they are against the companies that own the pipe, or against “Gazprom” and the five leading oil and gas companies in the world. Or maybe against the German government, which buys the gas? Unfortunately, our American friends forget that this pipeline is not the property of “Gazprom”. There is only gas coming from Russia”, — quotes the parliamentarian of the FAN.
earlier it became known that the Federal network Agency of Germany rejected the company 2 the Nord Stream AG in the development of the project “Northern stream — 2” under rules of the Gas Directive of the European Union. This was reported in the published on Friday may 15 the regulator’s decision.
In the German Agency noted that Nord Stream AG 2 failed to promptly finish the pipeline by the appointed date — may 23 last year. But this period was a necessary condition for the removal of the pipeline under rules of the Gas Directive. Full text of the decision of the regulator will be published at a later date.
Updated EU Gas Directive in particular implies that after the completion of the pipe “Gazprom” will be able to use only 50% of its capacity. The rest can qualify alternative suppliers of gas, independently from the main supplier, i.e. Gazprom.
Deputy of the state Duma Sergei Zheleznyak in an interview to “Rossiyskaya Gazeta” said that Germany’s decision on the “Nord stream — 2” showed the lack of independence of the German government.
the Deputy noted that the actions of the German side can not be called a partner, as Germany is trying to shift the responsibility for what is happening in Russia.
At the same time exactly a month ago, the head of the Committee on Economics and energy in the Bundestag Klaus Ernst said that “Nord stream — 2” is important for the European States, and imposed US sanctions require responses.
Ernst said that SP-2 is important inter alia because it will allow to supply additional volumes of gas to Europe. In his opinion, the us sanctions imposed on companies involved in this project are unacceptable and require a strong reaction from Europe.
Among the potential response of the German politician called the imposition of counter-sanctions on the us gas produced by companies in the U.S. through hydraulic fracturing.
According to him, Germany needs Russian gas, because Berlin is moving away from nuclear energy and coal. The raw materials supplied, such as the USA, cannot be regarded in this case as an alternative because “it is very expensive and less environmentally friendly,” said the German politician.
a month earlier, the U.S. state Department has accused Russia of abuse in the energy sector and has called Moscow “the enemy”, while refusing to comment on the notice of intention to impose new sanctions against Russia.
In a statement, the American foreign Minister stated that not only the White house, but Congress found the alleged misdeeds of Moscow.
“Congress cited the many examples where Russia has used energy as a hostile player, used it for hostile purposes,” — said in the diplomatic service.
the President of Russia Vladimir Putin repeatedly said that “Nord stream — 2” project, which will not become a tool for political issues in Europe.
In December last year, Donald trump signed the law on the defence budget of the States. It included a paragraph on sanctions against the “Nord stream — 2”. In this edition of Forbes reported that U.S. restrictions against “Northern stream — 2” — a belated and useless measure.
Rafael Fakhrutdinov
