PGNiG makes its case against Nord Stream 2

PGNiG has presented its case against Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Germany's ministry for economy and energy, as part of the certification process for the project's operator, the Polish state-owned gas company said on October 21.

PGNiG and its German subsidiary outlined the negative impact of the pipeline on EU energy security, calling attention to the fact it bypasses traditional supply routes for Russian gas to Europe through Ukraine and Poland.

"The current situation on the EU gas market proves the scale of the risks for security of supplies created by the Nord Stream 2 project," PGNiG CEO Pawel Majewski said. ""Suggestions that additional gas supplies are possible only through Nord Stream 2 are the manifestation of pressure on the certification procedure and prove that the project is aimed at bypassing the traditional transit routes."

As other existing pipelines have spare capacity, "there is no need for Nord Stream 2 to increase gas supplies to the EU member states," the CEO said.