Germany moves to block Nord Stream pipeline revival amid energy security concerns

Germany is taking proactive steps to block any attempts to reactivate the Nord Stream gas pipelines. 

Friedrich Merz’s administration is actively exploring measures to prevent any attempts to reactivate the Nord Stream gas pipelines linking Germany and Russia, as revealed in recent government documents, Caliber.Az reports via Financial Times.

Berlin is considering tightening its investment screening regulations to closely monitor ownership changes that could enable the pipelines to come back online. In a written response to Green party MPs’ questions, the economy ministry confirmed it is “currently reviewing the possibility of amending investment screening laws,” according to the Financial Times.

The Nord Stream pipelines were disabled after explosions damaged three of them in 2022, marking a turning point in Germany’s energy landscape. Once reliant on Russia for over half its gas supply, Germany has drastically reduced its dependence on Russian fossil fuels since Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine began four years ago.

Alarmed by a March report that Kremlin-linked Russian and US business figures were seeking to restart the pipelines, Chancellor Merz initiated talks with officials in Berlin and Brussels to keep the infrastructure inactive. Currently, Berlin has no direct control over the Swiss-based company that owns the pipelines and faces legal limitations in blocking ownership changes or reactivation without amending existing laws.

While Germany must grant technical certification for any reactivation, sources say the country lacks the authority to outright block the pipelines unless legislation changes. Merz has called for an EU-wide ban on the pipelines as part of the next sanctions package against Russia, but EU leaders recently failed to agree due to Slovakia’s opposition.

Stephen Lynch, a US investor reportedly involved in plans to restart the pipelines, was invited to discuss his proposals with the German economy ministry in early May. The ministry denied any senior-level meeting occurred but acknowledged routine information exchanges with stakeholders.

Lynch believes Europe will eventually resume buying Russian gas and argues that repairing just one pipeline would suffice to meet demand, avoiding costly full repairs.

The Nord Stream project, initiated by former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder with close Kremlin ties, has long been a source of friction between Berlin and Washington, especially under the Trump administration urging Germany to reduce Russian energy dependence.

Recent pipeline reactivation plans have sparked debate in Germany. The far-right Alternative for Germany party supports reopening the pipelines, alongside some CDU and SPD politicians who see it as a way to lower energy costs and aid struggling industries.

Nevertheless, the German government reaffirmed its support for the EU Commission’s goal to “gradually phase out energy imports from Russia into the EU,” stressing that “Germany already no longer purchases Russian pipeline gas. No Russian LNG is delivered to German LNG terminals either.”

By Naila Huseynova