Russia’s Gazprom says Nord Stream 2 at risk after US sanctions

Russian energy giant Gazprom said on Tuesday that there is a risk that its undersea Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany could be suspended or cancelled after the US sanctioned a Russian ship involved in its construction.

Russian state gas company Gazprom acknowledged there is a risk that its undersea pipeline to Germany could be suspended or cancelled after the United States on Tuesday slapped sanctions on a Russian ship involved in its construction. Germany’s Economy Ministry said it had been informed in advance of the new US sanctions against the Russian pipe-laying ship Fortuna and its owner. “We take note of this announcement with regret,” the ministry said. The US has said that the $11bn Nord Stream 2 pipeline would make Europe more dependent on Russian gas and hurt European energy security. The Kremlin has responded by accusing the US government of trying to promote sales of its own liquefied natural gas.