GLNG: Germany considers expropriating Nord Stream 2

Germany is considering repurposing parts of Russia’s unused Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline for importing LNG, Der Spiegel magazine reported on June 27.

The government in Berlin suspended the certification process necessary for Nord Stream 2 to flow gas, days before Moscow began its invasion of Ukraine. With Europe now scrambling to sever gas ties with Russia, it is now very doubtful that the project will be put to commercial use.

According to Der Spiegel, the German government is looking at expropriating the German section of Nord Stream 2, by cutting it off from the rest of the pipeline and converting it into a connection for an LNG terminal. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on June 24 that Moscow could not comment on the report by the newspaper, saying such steps would be a matter for lawyers to discuss.

Germany has embraced LNG as part of a drastic shift in its energy policy. The country currently does not buy any LNG, relying instead on mostly gas from Russia and the North Sea. There are now four LNG import projects in play in Germany that are making significant progress.