The shelved Russian natural gas pipeline is not an option, the Economy Ministry said.
The German Economy Minister, Robert Habeck, ruled out on Wednesday the possibility of putting the Nord Stream 2 (NS2) gas pipeline into service to alleviate the gas shortage in the EU.
“No, it is not an option”, Habeck told n-tv channel, noting that the pipeline is not certified. He also noted that NS2 is under US sanctions.
Previously, leftist German politician Klaus Ernst had suggested that the government consider operating the pipeline temporarily.
The newly built Russian gas route has never worked because Germany stopped the certification process in early February, before the start of the conflict in Ukraine.
NS2 stretches from the Russian coast under the Baltic Sea to Germany. Construction was completed in September 2021 and it was ready to enter service in December last year. The two-wire pipeline was designed to pump 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year.
Last month, the media reported that the German Finance Ministry was studying the possibility of nationalizing sections of the oil pipeline that runs through the country. Reportedly, the federal government planned to transform these parts into a connection for an LNG terminal.
Reports of the possible expropriation came amid growing concerns in Germany about Russian gas supplies. In June, shipments to Europe by Russia’s Gazprom via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline fell to about 40% of capacity due to parts shortages triggered by sanctions on Moscow. The pipeline will be completely shut down for 10 days in mid-July for regular maintenance.