Gas TSO of Ukraine applies for participation in Nord Stream 2 certification
Gas TSO of Ukraine, the country’s gas transmission system operator, applied to the German energy regulator (Bundesnetzagentur) to participate in the certification procedure for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline operator.
That’s according to the company press service, Ukrinform reports.
"We continue to strongly oppose this geopolitically dangerous project, which threatens Ukraine's national security, destroys Europe's energy architecture, and seeks to circumvent EU rules. Nord Stream 2 AG certification will violate the rights and commercial interests of Ukraine's GTS operator, which is the basis for our application to Germany. Nord Stream 2 is not aimed at diversifying gas shipment routes, threatening the security of gas supplies to Europe," said Sergiy Makogon, the company CEO.
He stressed that Nord Stream 2 adds a huge amount of unnecessary additional capacity for gas shipments from Russia to Europe to the existing capacity, which is already being underutilized. In particular, this is about the Ukrainian GTS, which is in good technical condition and boasts a capacity triple that of Nord Stream 2.
In addition, Russia’s new pipe bypassing Ukraine does not in fact diversify gas supply routes and will hinder competition in the European gas market. Gas TSO of Ukraine also noted that Nord Stream 2 AG, the pipe operator, is set to remain part of Gazprom Group, which is contrary to current European legislation.
"Nord Stream 2 AG can only be certified if it complies with all the obligations set out in European law. European energy law requires that the Nord Stream 2 operator be completely separate and independent from Gazprom, and that the rules on third-party access, non-discriminatory and transparent tariffs were applied to the entire pipeline from its end point in Lubmin, Germany, to the starting point in Ust-Luga, Russia," Gas TSO of Ukraine wrote.
The company insists that Ukraine's gas transmission system should be open for use by third parties at the Russian border, regardless of whether the party is from Central Asia or another Russian gas producer beyond Gazprom.
As reported, NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine submitted the same application to the German regulator to participate in the certification process of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
Nord Stream 2 AG earlier said the first line of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline had been filled with technical gas and was ready for operation.
On September 10, Russian gas monopoly Gazprom announced the completion of NS2 construction.
The pipeline was built from Russia to Germany, bypassing Ukraine, along the Baltic Sea bottom. The sole shareholder in the project is Gazprom. Now the pipeline is awaiting certification by a German regulator.
Ukraine, Poland, the Baltic States, and the United States vehemently oppose this project. The governments of the said countries, as well as an influential group of European Parliament members, believe Russia is already using Nord Stream 2 as a hybrid energy weapon against both Ukraine and the entire European Union.
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