A move from a German regulator to suspend the licensing of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany is estimated to delay the project’s commissioning date.
On Tuesday, according to some government sources, the regulator delayed the licensing when it was originally planned for January. A source estimated that the start of the pipeline could be postponed until March 2022.
The regulators aim to supervise the German Nord Stream 2 company’s operations on its territory as it also has the capability to prohibit and fine unlawful behavior.
Russian gas giant Gazprom would be required to establish a limited liability company under German law. The company was also warned against illicit gas sales. The source said that Gazprom had said that it would start to comply with constructing the company.
Analyst Hanns Koenig from research company Aurora said that previously, Russia had promised additional gas volumes when Nord Stream 2 opens. However, more gas could actually flow to Germany than the current level as there is free transit capacity via Belarus and Ukraine.
Koenig signalled that the move from the German regulator is still autonomous while it answers to Berlin.
