An environmental fund has been created in Germany to bypass the sanctions against Nord Stream 2. The organization has already begun to operate, said the Minister of Energy of the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Christian Pegel in an interview with the German edition of the Schweriner Volkszeitung.
The plans to establish an environmental fund became known in early January 2021. Then it was reported that he will be engaged in projects in the field of environmental protection, nature and climate. In addition, the organization will be able to conduct commercial activities. That is, companies participating in the gas pipeline project will be able to provide their services to the fund and not interact directly with the construction operator.
As it became known on January 19, 2021, the United States imposed sanctions against the Russian pipelayer Fortuna, which was planned to be used to complete the construction of the gas pipeline. After that, the Swiss insurance company Zurich Insurance Group left the project. In addition to her, the project was abandoned by the German concern Bilfinger, which had several contracts with the pipeline operator, Nord Stream 2, and the Danish engineering company Ramboll. Norwegian DNV GL refused to certify the gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.
The Kremlin has already responded to the new US sanctions against the gas pipeline. Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov recalled that the Russian side still expects to complete the project.