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Schwerin (AP) - The state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is apparently planning to secure the completion of the controversial Baltic Sea gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 with the help of a state-owned foundation.
As reported from government circles in Schwerin, the cabinet dealt with the topic at its regular meeting.
The establishment of a foundation, with the help of which the USA threatened sanctions against companies involved in the construction of the line, had already been considered in November of last year, but was not pursued any further.
According to NDR, which was the first to report on the resumption of the plans, the foundation could already be decided at a special session of the state parliament on Thursday.
According to NDR information, the Russian energy giant Gazprom and the Western European Nord Stream consortium are no longer to build and operate the pipeline, but a non-profit foundation committed to the energy transition and thus environmental and nature conservation.
This is legally withdrawn from the sanctions pressure from the USA.
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Construction of the pipeline was interrupted shortly before completion at the end of 2019 after European companies bowed to pressure from the USA and pipe-laying ships pulled out of the Baltic Sea.
The USA justifies its resistance to the project and the announced sanctions against participating companies with the fact that its European partners are too dependent on Russian gas.
Pipeline proponents, on the other hand, accuse the USA of only wanting to sell their liquid gas better in Europe.
However, there are also massive concerns about the natural gas project within the EU.
A few weeks ago, a Russian pipe-laying ship resumed work and completed the last 2.6-kilometer section of the pipeline in the German Exclusive Economic Zone.
Work on closing the gap off the Danish island of Bornholm is expected to begin in mid-January.
As the head of the Russian energy company Gazprom, Alexei Miller, said 94 percent of the pipeline has been completed.
This means that more than 2,300 kilometers of double-strand pipes lie on the sea floor.
Before the line goes into operation, however, extensive certifications are required, for which companies are apparently not so easy to find.
According to NDR, a Norwegian company that accompanied the construction has now withdrawn.
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Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) had always endorsed the construction of the pipeline.
«Germany is rightly stepping out of nuclear and coal power.
Then, in addition to the expansion of renewable energies, we also need gas as a transition technology, ”she said in support of the statement.
Nord Stream 2 is important for the success of the energy transition and therefore also in the interests of climate protection.
Russian natural gas has been flowing to Germany through Nord Stream 1 since 2012.
According to the operator, the double line has a transport capacity of around 55 billion cubic meters per year.
The same amount should also flow through Nord Stream 2.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210105-99-909017 / 2