The German Ministry of Economy allows the expropriation of a part of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline located on its territory for connection with a liquefied gas terminal on the coast of the Baltic Sea. This was reported on Friday in Spiegel.
According to the German magazine, in this case, the German part of Nord Stream 2 will be cut off from the rest of the gas pipeline that has not been launched.
Against the backdrop of a reduction in gas supplies from the Russian Federation, Germany has declared an alarm mode. The next step could be the introduction of an emergency situation, during which quotas for the supply of gas to consumers will be introduced.
Therefore, in order to ensure a reliable gas supply throughout the country, Berlin purchases liquefied gas from other possible sources. However, there is a problem with its delivery to the network. Meanwhile, Nord Stream 2 has a distribution network with compressors and lines capable of transporting gas directly to southern Germany. It is this and the eastern parts of the country that are most dependent on Russian gas.
At the same time, the Germans fear Russia's reaction to such a decision, writes Spiegel. The Russian Federation has already stated that the implementation of specific steps by Berlin will be the reason for a legal assessment.
There are also concerns about the environmental implications of such a decision. In addition, the question of ownership of the gas pipeline remains unclear, the publication notes.
