Germany suspends certification of Nord Stream 2

The agency said this in a press release posted on its website, Ukrinform reports.

“Following a thorough examination of the documentation, the Bundesnetzagentur concluded that it would only be possible to certify an operator of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline if that operator was organised in a legal form under German law,” the document says.

It is noted that Nord Stream 2 AG, which is based in Switzerland, has decided not to transform its existing legal form but instead to found a subsidiary under German law solely to govern the German part of the pipeline. The agency also said that this subsidiary is to become the owner and operator of the German part of the pipeline. The subsidiary must then fulfil the requirements of an independent transmission operator as set out in law.

“The certification procedure will remain suspended until the main assets and human resources have been transferred to the subsidiary and the Bundesnetzagentur is able to check whether the documentation resubmitted by the subsidiary, as the new applicant, is complete. When these requirements have been fulfilled, the Bundesnetzagentur will be able to resume its examination in the remainder of the four-month period set out in law,” the document says.

It is also noted that the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) and the European Commission were informed in advance.

As earlier reported, NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine and Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine were admitted to the certification procedure of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

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