Attempts to block
implementation of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project do not meet European
interests, Chief Executive Officer of the German company Mario Mehren said on
Wednesday.
"Certain East European
countries attempt to disrupt implementation of the Nord Stream 2 and put
pressure on Brussels. And such tricks are made there that they become a subject
matter of criticism for the internal legal service. This may be a political
consideration but it definitely does not meet interests of European
consumers," Mehren said.
Wintershall invested 324
mln euros in 2017 from 950 mln euros of its share, the top manager said. The
company will continue project financing this year in scope requested by the
project operator, he added.
The cold weather settling
in Europe serves as one more argument in favor of the project, Mehren noted.
"It was very cold last
week but you did not notice that because you received gas from Russia. Premises
were heated well particularly owing to the Nord Stream. I would recommend not
to overestimate influence of Poland. Too much attention should not be paid to
countries accounting for 1 or 2% of the overall consumption in Europe," he
added.
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline
is expected to come into service at the end of 2019. The pipeline is set to run
from the Russian coast along the Baltic Sea bed to the German shore. Each of
the pipeline’s two stretches will have a capacity of 27.5 bln cubic meters. The
new pipeline that is expected to connect the Russian resource base with
European customers, will double the capacity of the first line and will
basically follow its route. The total project cost of the Nord Stream-2 is
estimated at 9.9 bln euros.
(ITAR-TASS)