German, US officials to discuss Nord Stream 2 project in first week of June: source

The German national security adviser Jan Hecker will meet his US counterpart Jake Sullivan to discuss the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project during the first week of June, the former Hungarian ambassador to the US, Andras Simonyi, told S&P Global Platts June 1 via email.

Simonyi had signed a petition calling for a moratorium on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. The petition, submitted to the German parliament May 31, was signed by several other former ambassadors and includes Vladimir Milov, the former Russian deputy minister of energy.

"The signatories have been [saying] for years that the Nord Stream 2 project is not business driven, [but is rather] a geopolitical project in favor of Russian political interest. Upon completion of the pipeline, Russian natural gas supply will not only by pass Ukraine, but the new route will also lead to a firm grip over Germany by Russia," Simonyi said.

The petition calls to halt the offshore pipeline project which will supply gas from Russia's Gazprom to Germany once completed.

"Nord Stream 2 is not necessary for the energy security of Germany or the EU," the petition says. "The capacities of existing continental pipelines are sufficient to meet future needs. The new pipeline is primarily a geopolitical project aimed at cutting Ukraine and Poland out of gas transit equation," it adds.

Gas transmission system of Ukraine, GTSOU, also shared its concern in relation to the call for a Nord Stream 2 moratorium.

"The call for the suspension of this pipeline correctly recognizes that instead of natural gas, it will deliver 'discord and distrust.' And instead of advancing European goals of supply diversification, it will subvert them," a GTSOU spokesperson told Platts.

The US administration waived sanctions against Russian gas company Gazprom for its ownership of the nearly completed gas pipeline to Germany, and against its CEO, according to a State Department report to the Congress on May 19.