On October 20, 2021 Polish Oil and Gas Company (PGNiG SA) and its subsidiary PGNiG Supply & Trading (PST) have filed to the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy of Germany (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie – BMWi) their position within the certification procedure of Nord Stream 2 operator. It concerned the negative impact of the Nord Stream 2 AG certification in ITO (Independent Transmission Operator) model on the security of energy supplies to the European Union and its Member States, including Poland.

In their position both companies specified the circumstances confirming that the certification of Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the ITO model increases threats to the security of gas supplies to the European Union. Contrary to the statement by Nord Stream 2 AG, its pipeline does not create additional supply route to Europe, but is intended to bypass the traditional supply routes form the eastern direction through Poland and Ukraine.

Moreover, both companies stressed the control of Nord Stream 2 AG by the dominant supplier, which has, according to PGNiG SA and PST significant impact on security of energy supplies to the European Union and its Member States.

“Current situation on the European Union gas market proves the scale of the risks for security of supplies created by Nord Stream 2 project,” said PGNiG SA CEO, Mr. Paweł Majewski. “Suggestions that additional gas supplies are possible only through Nord Stream 2 are the manifestation of pressure on the certification procedure and prove that the project is aimed at bypassing the traditional transit routes. Since there are spare capacities of the existing pipelines, there is no need for Nord Stream 2 to increase gas supplies to the EU Member States.”

Assessment of impact on security of energy supplies in the European Union and its Member States is one of the components of the certification procedure. This assessment is being conducted by the BMWi, which is obliged to present its opinion by December 8, 2021. The assessment of the remaining premises will be conducted by the German regulatory authority – Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur – BNetzA). Within the proceedings PGNiG SA and PST consistently stress that Nord Stream 2 AG does not meet the formal and substantive requirements for certification in the preferential ITO model. Comprehensive position will be filed directly to BNetzA.