Reuters reported that speaking in Brussels ( Belgium) on March 17, German Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Robert Habeck emphasized: "Ukraine is still in conflict with Russia. Therefore, discussing the possibility of repairing or restarting the Nord Stream 1 or Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is a wrong direction."
The Nord Stream pipeline was once the most important gas pipeline from Russia to Europe. Nord Stream 1 will operate from 2011 to 2022, while Nord Stream 2 - an $11 billion project - will be completed in 2021 but will never be put into operation because Germany stopped approving it right before Russia deployed troops to Ukraine.
In September 2022, both the Nord Stream 1 pipeline and one of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline were destroyed by mysterious explosions in the Baltic Sea, almost blocking gas supplies from Russia to Europe. So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the sabotage.
Since the Ukrainian conflict, Germany has shifted to other supplies, with Norway now the largest gas supplier to replace Russia. However, Mr. Habeck is concerned that the lesson of dependence on Russian energy could be forgotten, especially as Germany prepares for the new government.
Coalition talks between the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the CDU/CSU conservative alliance to form the next German government are underway. Mr. Habeck warned that these parties themselves created Germany's dependence on Russian gas. "They did it on purpose. I am concerned that the lesson from 2022 may be forgotten," said Mr. Habeck.
Meanwhile, the return of President Donald Trump to US politics is creating chaos. Alpha Bank recently said that the share price of Russian gas giant Gazprom has increased again, in the hope that a quick peace deal in Ukraine could pave the way for the restoration of Russian gas exports to Europe.
However, despite efforts to mobilize the corridor of allies close to Russian President Vladimir Putin to encourage the US to allow the restart of Nord Stream 2, the German government has affirmed a tough stance of not returning to depend on Russian energy.
