Poland files case against Russia's Gazprom for financing Nord Stream 2 pipeline
The Polish Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has opened proceedings against Gazprom and five other international companies responsible for financing the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, reported Polskie Radio.
Polskie Radio noted that more than two years ago, the five companies wanted to create a consortium to finance the construction of the Russian gas pipeline. Marek Niechciał, President of UOKIK, stated that “the company that was to deal with the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline did not receive approval from [UOKIK] for this transaction. Unfortunately, as the explanatory proceedings showed, despite our objection, these entities decided to finance this project. This may mean a violation of anti-monopoly law.”
The UOKiK President believes that the unofficial consortium’s activities violate the law. He added that the suit is not about the construction of a gas pipeline, but about observing Polish legislation.
A fine of up to 10% of volume may be imposed for violating the ban on creating a consortium.
The Nord Stream 2 project envisages the construction and operation of two gas pipelines with a total capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of gas per annum from the Russian coast through the Baltic Sea to Germany. The head of Gazprom said that after the construction of the Nord Stream 2 and the Turkish Stream pipelines, gas transit through Ukraine will decrease tenfold.