How far is "Beixi No. 2" from ventilation

　　Recently, Gazprom announced that the "Beixi No. 2" natural gas pipeline project has been fully completed and will be officially put into operation before the end of the year.

　　As an important gas transmission project connecting Russia and the European continent, the project has been affecting the interests of Europe, Russia, and the United States since its inception, and has been sanctioned by the United States for a long time.

However, this game will not end with the completion of the project.

Affected by factors such as project certification, U.S. obstruction, and the German election, there is still uncertainty as to whether the "Beixi No. 2" project will finally be put into operation.

The "Three Kingdoms Killing" of the United States, Europe and Russia

　　The "Beixi No. 2" natural gas pipeline is about 1,200 kilometers long and consists of two branch lines. The designed annual gas transmission capacity is about 55 billion cubic meters. After completion, it will bypass Ukraine and directly transport natural gas to Germany and other European countries.

　　The project officially started in 2015, with a total investment of approximately 9.5 billion euros, attracting more than 1,000 companies from 25 countries to participate.

However, the construction process is full of difficulties, especially when faced with various obstacles from the United States.

In December 2019, the "North Stream 2" project was suddenly sanctioned by the Trump administration of the United States, resulting in the project being forced to suspend work for up to one year.

After the Biden government took office, it also put pressure on the project and sanctioned Russian companies involved in the construction of the project, so that the entire project was delayed until this year before it was declared complete.

　　This "triple game" revealed the different demands of the United States, Europe, and Russia in their geopolitical and economic interests.

　　Germany and Russia have always been staunch supporters of the "Beixi-2" project.

As far as Germany is concerned, since Germany is a major natural gas importer, the energy supply and demand relationship between Germany and Russia has a huge impact on the economies of the two countries.

After the "Beixi 2" is put into operation, Germany will become an important hub for Russian natural gas transmission to other European countries. It can not only guarantee its own energy supply, but also earn "extra costs", which is full of natural power.

For Russia, "Beixi-2" means dual economic and political benefits, which can not only further expand its share in the European natural gas market, but also take the opportunity to weaken Ukraine’s influence in Europe in the context of the extremely deteriorating relations between Russia and Ukraine. At the same time, it can also improve the relationship between the two sides that has been cooling in recent years by strengthening Russia-Europe energy cooperation.

　　The United States has long opposed the "North Stream 2" project, saying that the project will make Europe more dependent on Russian energy supplies and threaten Europe's energy security.

Some analysts pointed out that, as a major shale gas country, the United States intends to squeeze the share of Russian natural gas in the European energy market, so as to sell more domestic shale gas to European countries at high prices.

　　The project was also opposed by Ukraine and some Central and Eastern European countries.

Ukraine and Poland are worried that Russia will lose billions of dollars in energy transit fees by bypassing the two countries to send natural gas to Europe. In addition, Russia has always used natural gas as a geopolitical weapon, and the operation of "Beixi 2" It may endanger the energy security of Central and Eastern European countries and harm the overall interests of the European Union.

　　In July of this year, the US State Department stated that the United States and Germany reached an agreement on the "North Stream 2" natural gas pipeline project. The two sides will cooperate to ensure energy security in Ukraine and Europe.

The content of the agreement includes doing everything possible to urge Russia and Ukraine to extend the agreement on Russian gas transit through Ukraine for 10 years, and to establish and manage the "Ukraine Green Fund".

The agreement has eased the contradiction between the United States and Germany to a certain extent, in exchange for the "release" of the project by the United States, but the game between the United States, Europe, and Russia on the project is still far from over.

There is still uncertainty about whether it can be put into operation

　　Recently, a German media wrote that as the term of German Chancellor Merkel is coming to an end, she hopes that "Beixi 2" can be put into operation as soon as possible to become one of its political legacy.

However, at present, when the "Beixi No. 2" project will start gas transmission is still unknown.

　　The certification results of the "Beixi No. 2" project are still in doubt.

The German energy regulatory agency, the German Federal Network Agency, recently announced that it has accepted the certification application of the "Beixi No. 2" natural gas pipeline operating company and will propose a "draft decision" within 4 months on whether the company is an independent transportation operator. And submit the draft to the European Commission for review.

It is reported that in accordance with EU regulations, natural gas producers are not allowed to serve as pipeline operators for natural gas delivery at the same time, and Gazprom is the sole shareholder of the "Beixi No. 2" natural gas pipeline operating company. Therefore, whether the project can pass the certification is currently not allowed. And know.

　　The US Biden government is bound to try its best to obstruct the operation of the project.

In early August of this year, U.S. Secretary of State Blincoln appointed former diplomat Amos Hawkstein as the State Department’s senior energy security adviser to oversee the implementation of the terms of the US-German joint agreement. The latter served as the U.S. special envoy for international energy affairs during the Obama administration. Famous for being anti-Russian.

Brinken said in a statement that this appointment aims to curb Russia's use of energy as a geopolitical weapon and to help Ukraine, NATO and the European Union achieve a more secure and sustainable energy future.

　　The final result of the German election may become the biggest variable.

The German Bundestag elections kicked off on September 26.

According to the latest polling data from the German polling agency Forsa, the Social Democratic Party continues to lead at 25%, the Coalition Party’s support rate is 22%, and the Green Party’s support rate is 17%.

According to the German Constitution, the ruling party or party alliance must have more than 50% of the votes, and the Social Democratic Party has stated that it wants to form a coalition government with the Green Party, so the Green Party is more likely to enter the coalition government to govern.

The Green Party is known for its emphasis on human rights and has repeatedly stated that in view of the terrible human rights situation in Russia, the German Federal Government should terminate the implementation of the "Beixi No. 2" project.

Therefore, the future results of the German election may have an important impact on the project.

　　At present, there is only more than a month left before the heating season in Europe, and Gazprom is reducing natural gas transmission to Europe, and hinted that only when the "Beixi 2" project is fully operational, the shortage of supply will be alleviated.

The energy supply crisis has caused the natural gas price in many places in Europe to continue to "high fever".

It can be seen that if the "Beixi No. 2" project cannot be put into operation in time, Europe will face a very severe winter this year.

There is not much time left for Europeans.

(Economic Daily reporter Chen Ximeng)