The company-operator Nord Stream 2 AG withdrew its application for the laying of the gas pipeline “Nord stream — 2” through territorial waters of Denmark. The message was distributed by the press service of the company. As stated by the head of Nord Stream 2 AG Matthias Warning), the company felt obliged to take such a step, “because, in the two years since the filing of the application, the Danish government has not shown the slightest signs to make a decision.”
We are talking about the main route of the gas pipeline, which was to pass South of the Danish island of Bornholm. According to the report, the company has two alternative routes that should go North-West and South-East of the island, respectively. However, they will be laid through international waters and do not require permission from the Danish Foreign Ministry.
Denmark will consider alternative applications
The Danish Energy Agency stated that it had taken note of Nord Stream 2’s decision and was continuing to process two alternative applications. The proposed routes pass outside the territory of Denmark and can be rejected only for environmental reasons or possible restrictions on navigation, the Department stressed.
Earlier, the head of Gazprom, Alexei Miller, told if it is not possible to obtain permission from Denmark, the construction of Nord stream 2 will be completed, as planned, by the end of 2019. The two lines of the gas pipeline, which are an extension of the already existing Nord stream, should connect the Russian Ust-Luga with the German Greifswald. They will supply up to 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year from Russia to Germany. Opponents of the construction are the transit countries of Russian gas — Ukraine and Poland, fearing the loss of transit payments, as well as a number of EU countries. The White House threatened sanctions to companies involved in the construction of the pipeline.
