The connection of «Nord Stream-2» to the European energy system requires anbandling (ownership unbundling is the process by which a company is deprived of part of its property in accordance with the law) of Russian Gazprom, Elena Zerkal, advisor to Energy Minister, told Radio Liberty.
She pointed out that Gazprom has a monopoly position on «Nord Stream 2» , which violates European law.
«If we call things by their proper names, Russia can influence all markets because Gazprom has a monopoly on supplying gas through the pipeline. It is the only one in Russia with such a right. «Nord Stream-2» is already subject to European regulation, the so-called Third Energy Package,» Zerkal said.
She explained that this implies the procedure of anbandling, i.e. separation of gas supply and transportation functions. Ukraine's Naftogaz has already gone through such a procedure, after which gas transportation was transferred to the Operator of the Gas Transmission System of Ukraine.
«This is a very sensitive issue for Putin. Because he understands that this will leave him without his main «gas weapon». If Russia has a market and there will be operators who can supply other than Gazprom, which implies the implementation of the Third Energy Package, then there will no longer be such a diktat and the possibility of dictating prices from the Russian Federation. Therefore, there will be a market where Ukraine can compete with its prices for the pipeline,» the minister's advisor said.
As a reminder, the Head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said on October 12, during the Ukraine-EU summit that the Russian gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 is covered by the European energy security directive of 2012.
On 25 August, the «Nord Stream-2» pipeline operator lost a lawsuit in Germany regarding the subjection of the pipeline to the European Union's gas directive.
