He noted that the project cannot yet operate at full capacity due to restrictions associated with the European gas directive.

“But it is possible that in order to encourage Gazprom to maximize gas injection into gas storage facilities and export in conditions of market shortages and ultra-high prices, the gas directive may still be canceled.

In theory, this would allow the pipeline to operate at full capacity by the end of the year, ”he said.

The construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline was fully completed at 08:45 Moscow time on September 10.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the timing of commercial gas supplies via Nord Stream 2 depends on the position of the German regulator.

At the end of August it became known that a court in Germany decided not to exempt Nord Stream 2 from the EU Gas Directive