Germany’s Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has firmly ruled out the possibility of restarting the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, despite recent speculation of resumed Russian gas imports. In an interview with Die Zeit, Merz stated that Nord Stream 2 “currently has no operating license, and that is not expected to change.”
The pipeline, designed to deliver up to 55 billion cubic meters (Bcm) of gas annually from Russia to Germany, never became operational. In 2022, one of its two lines, along with both lines of Nord Stream 1, was damaged by an explosion near Denmark’s Bornholm island. Although Nord Stream 2’s second line remains intact, Merz’s stance aligns with the European Union’s commitment to cutting reliance on Russian gas.
The European Commission recently released a roadmap targeting a complete phase-out of Russian pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports by 2030, marking a significant shift in Europe’s energy policy.
