EU allows Gazprom more access to German gas pipeline

The EU Commission allows Russia to transport more gas to Germany via the Opal pipeline.

The EU has approved an expansion for the Russian Gazprom group to access the Opal pipeline in Germany. The company can provide more capacity as Gazprom is currently allowed to use 50 percent of the capacity.

The pipeline branches off in the Baltic Sea via the Nord Stream line and carries gas to the Czech Republic. Gazprom currently has limited access because the EU wants to prevent excessive control over infrastructure. Gaining access to Opal for Gazprom is a milestone in the Nord Stream 2. Another line of the Baltic pipeline would allow Russia to transport more gas to Germany without having to rely on pipelines in Ukraine and Poland.

However, the new Nord Stream 2 project is under threat: Many EU politicians, in particular the CDU, want to stop the project. The United States is opposed to the project as well.