Russian gas monopoly
Gazprom and the German government on May 11 discussed the controversial Nord
Stream 2 pipeline, which was criticised earlier by some members of the European
Parliament.
A working meeting was held
between Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller and German Vice Chancellor and Minister for
Economic Affairs and Energy Sigmar Gabriel in
Berlin
on May 11, Gazprom said in a press
release.
The Russian gas giant noted
that the parties discussed gas exports from
Russia
to
Germany
. “It was highlighted that last year
had set an all-time record for gas supplies from Russia as they grew by 6.6
billion cubic metres (a 17.1% increase),” Gazprom said.
“The growth trend continues
this year as well: the exports have already risen by 2 billion cubic meters (a
19% increase) in the first four months of 2016 compared to 2015. In light of
the increasing demand for Russian energy products in
Europe
, the meeting participants stressed
the importance of the Nord Stream 2 project,” it added.
“It was noted that the new
gas transmission pipeline would not only improve the reliability of gas
deliveries but also facilitate the development of the European gas market,”
Gazprom said.
Another working meeting
took place on May 11 between Miller and
Austria
’s OMV Chairman Rainer Seele. The
meeting addressed a wide range of issues, including, inter alia, Russian gas
exports to
Austria
, the asset swap, and oil supplies. “An
emphasis was placed on the cooperation between the parties within the Nord
Stream 2 project,” Gazprom said.
Two days earlier, at the
European parliament in
Strasbourg
, MEPs voiced grave concerns about
Nord Stream 2. In a debate with Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel
Arias Cañete on May 9, MEPs argued the project goes against the objectives of
the Energy Union, harms solidarity among EU member states and should be
considered from a geopolitical as well as an economic perspective.
https://www.neweurope.eu/article/berlin-moscow-nord-stream-2-boost-eu-gas-market/