Naftogaz to participate in certification of Nord Stream 2 – Vitrenko

NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine welcomes the decision of the Federal Network Agency of Germany (BundesNetzAgentur, BNetzA) to satisfy the company's application for participation in the certification process of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline operator and is ready to present its position in the near future.

Naftogaz CEO Yuriy Vitrenko has said this, Ukrinform reports with a reference to the company’s press service.

“We welcome BNetzA's decision and are ready to provide the regulator with our legal position in the near future. It is based on the fact that Nord Stream 2 cannot be certified without ensuring its full compliance with European and international legislation. We hope that BNetzA will take our arguments into account properly,” he said.

Vitrenko added that the involvement of Naftogaz in the certification process of Nord Stream 2 operator would ensure greater transparency of the process. The official stressed that Naftogaz is one of the largest participants in the European gas market and a major buyer of the resource, the company has a direct interest in making the market truly competitive.

According to Vitrenko, the launch of Nord Stream 2 "will strengthen Gazprom's dominance and strike at competition in the markets of Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Austria and other European countries."

"The regulator must take this into account," he said.

Naftogaz CEO also stressed that Nord Stream 2 does not meet a number of requirements of European legislation. In particular, its operator is dependent on Gazprom and other customers do not have access to gas transportation through Nord Stream 2 along the entire length of the pipeline, as required by law.

Previously, Germany's energy regulator BNetzA stated that the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine would be included in the certification procedure of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The relevant report was posted on the website of the Gas TSO of Ukraine.

iy