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German Economy Minister: Russia Has Been Reliable Energy Partner for Germany

© Sputnik / Grigoriy Sisoev / Go to the mediabankPrior to the grand opening ceremony of the Nord Stream gas pipeline in the German town of Lubmin.
Prior to the grand opening ceremony of the Nord Stream gas pipeline in the German town of Lubmin. - Sputnik International
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia has always fulfilled its obligations on gas exports and been a reliable energy partner for Germany for the past five decades, German Economy Minister Peter Altmeier said on Tuesday.

“Russians have been fulfilling their obligations every second and every hour since the dissolution of the Soviet Union … [Russia] has been our reliable partner for 50 years,” Altmeier said at an energy conference organized by the German Handelsblatt newspaper.

Commenting on US Ambassador Richard Grenell's recent threats to German companies participating in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, Altmeier pointed out that it would not be easy to intimidate Germany.

“It is not so easy to make an impression on us and intimidate us,” the minister said.

READ MORE: Swiss Court Cancels Arrest of Gazprom-Owned Nord Stream Shares — Gas Giant

On the same day, Peter Altmaier announced that he had invited US liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporters to an investment conference in Germany in February to discuss conditions for potential supplies of US gas to the country.

Altmaier noted that the German government was now mulling over the creation of special terminals in the country, which would allow Germany, if necessary, to store the US liquefied gas.

"We are engaged in dialogue with [the German cities of] Brunsbuettel, Wilhelmshaven and Stade [regarding the construction of the terminals]. I invited [the cities' representatives] — an this is an exclusive — to an investment conference with the participation of US LNG exporters in February to discuss our expectations, prices that they can offer, how we can expand such infrastructure [for LNG storage]," Altmaier said at an energy conference organized by the German Handelsblatt newspaper.

The announcement comes after on January 13, media reports emerged that Grenell had sent out letters to a number of German companies, hinting that Washington could introduce sanctions on parties that support the Nord Stream 2 project.

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Nord Stream 2 is a joint venture of Russian gas giant Gazprom and five European companies, including Germany's Uniper and Wintershall. It aims to deliver 55 billion cubic meters (1.9 trillion cubic feet) of Russian natural gas annually to the European Union via the Baltic Sea and Germany. The pipeline project has been welcomed by some countries in Europe and opposed by others, including the United States.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has voiced the belief that his US counterpart, Donald Trump, was seeking to force Russia out of the European energy market so that the United States could sell more liquefied natural gas to Europe.

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