Denmark can’t stop Russian gas pipeline but may slow project down

Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen says that Denmark cannot prevent the Russian-led Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project from being implemented, national commercial broadcaster TV2 reports.

Denmark, however, may be able to slow down the construction works, according to the prime minister. It has the legal right to not grant a permit for the construction and operation of Nord Stream 2 in its territorial waters. In this case, the pipeline will run through transboundary waters, forcing the operator to negotiate the project with the European Commission.

Earlier this week, Nord Stream 2 AG, the company in charge of the project, received the final permit for construction and operation from Finland. In March, a German watchdog fully approved the project.

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is set to run from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea. The pipeline is projected to double the existing pipeline’s capacity of 55 billion cubic meters annually.

According to the operator, Nord Stream 2 is the most efficient way, both economically and ecologically, to deliver Russian gas to European consumers. The future pipeline will provide transit of 70 percent of Russian gas sales to the EU via the German route when it is built in 2019.

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