The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project will be implemented, including with the support of the countries European Union . The Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexander Novak in an interview with RBK on Monday, January 4th.
According to Novak, the EU realizes that the US sanctions against the Russian project are in fact open protectionism, through which Washington hopes to promote its liquefied natural gas (LNG) on the market.
“Everyone understands this, including the countries that are interested in the implementation of this project, European countries and companies. They support the project, and I am sure that taking into account this support, it will be implemented,” the Deputy Prime Minister explained, stressing that the instruments used by the United States in the fight against the Russian gas pipeline are “absolutely uncompetitive”.
On January 2, the Norwegian DNV GL refused to issue the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline “a certificate of conformity required to start its work. The company said in a statement that all activities to inspect the Nord Stream 2 pipeline system have been halted as long as US sanctions remain in place.
Initially, Nord Stream 2 was planned to be completed and commissioned at the end of 2019. However, construction stalled last December after the US threatened to sanction the pipelayer owners.