Putin Promises Swift Gas Delivery to Europe via Nord Stream 2 Once Germany Approves

Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged that there will be rapid gas deliveries to the European Union through the Nord Stream 2 pipeline as soon as German regulatory authorities give the green light. Putin stated yesterday that natural gas could start flowing within 24 hours of approval from the German Federal Network Agency, which regulates electricity, gas, telecommunications, and other markets. The pipeline from Russia across the Baltic Sea to Germany was completed last September and is a double pipeline approximately 1,200 kilometers long. At a forum in Sochi overlooking the Baltic Sea, Putin noted that the first string of the pipeline has already been filled with gas, and the second string could be filled by mid-December. The Federal Network Agency has until early January to make a decision regarding the operating license for the pipelines, which are expected to supply up to 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from Russia.