The Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline is technically operational but lacks consumers and contracts, said Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak on Wednesday.
‘Technically, the pipeline is in working condition,’ though there are no consumers or contracts for its operation, Novak told journalists in Moscow.
The pipeline, which runs through the Baltic Sea, was designed to transport Russian gas to Germany but has been idle since 2022.
‘Of course, there are differences. But is it only in the interests of Russia and the United States to restore normal energy supply in Europe? Nord Stream pipelines are being discussed,’ Lavrov said.
Novak’s remarks followed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview, where he said that Moscow and Washington are currently in talks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines, Russian state agency TASS reported on Wednesday.
Last week, German media also reported on possible US-Russia cooperation regarding the use of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
In 2022, Russia shut down the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which was the main supplier of gas to Europe.
Germany and the EU began gradually halting Russian gas and oil imports following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022.
