Germany has moved ahead to block the €9.5bn (US$10.7bn) Nord Stream 2 pipeline amid the growing military tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
In a blow to the gas pipeline project, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has suspended its certification process after Moscow announced recognition of the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine.
Construction on the 1,230km Nord Stream 2 pipeline between Russia and Germany through the Baltic Sea was completed in September 2021. However, its operations could not begin due to pending certification by Germany and the European Union (EU).
Last November, the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA), which is the German energy regulator, had suspended certification of the pipeline. At that time, the regulator stated that the pipeline operating company Nord Stream 2 did not comply with German law in properly incorporating a subsidiary.
Last month, Nord Stream 2 founded a German subsidiary called Gas for Europe to own and operate the 54km section of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline built in German territorial waters and the landfall facility in Lubmin.
Nord Stream 2 is owned by Gazprom international projects, a subsidiary of Russian energy company Gazprom.
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