Germany's BNA to Make Final Decisions on Nord Stream 2 Pipeline Before 24 May - Sources

BERLIN (Sputnik) - The German Federal Network Agency (BNA) intends to make a final decision before 24 May regarding the request of Nord Stream 2 AG, the operator of the Nord Stream 2, on whether to absolve the pipeline from the EU Gas Directive, BNA representative Fiete Wulff has said.

“The decision will be made public no later than 24 May,” Wulf said.

According to a legislative amendment adopted by Brussels, decisions on the exemption of gas pipelines from the scope of the directive must be made before 24 May. Nord Stream 2 AG has filed the corresponding application.

German business newspaper Handelsblatt reported earlier this month, citing a draft of the regulator's decision, that the waiver will be denied under the directive's requirement that the pipeline in question must be completed before May 2019 for the operator to have ownership rights for its segment located within Germany's territory.

Nord Stream 2 is a joint venture between the Russian energy giant Gazprom and five European companies. The gas pipeline will carry up to 55 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea, passing through the territorial waters or exclusive economic zones of Denmark, Finland, Germany, Russia, and Sweden.