Natural gas: Nord Stream 2 will start selling gas to Europe immediately after its approval

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly said that Russia will be able to start natural gas supplies to Europe via the Nord Stream 2 pipeline as soon as it gets the green light from Germany.

The pipeline, funded by Kremlin-owned energy giant Gazprom and its European partners, would have to be certified by a German regulator to begin commercial sales of natural gas, although the approval process could take several months.

Also according to Putin, if the German regulator gives its permission for deliveries tomorrow, deliveries of 17.5 billion cubic metres will begin the day after tomorrow.

Russia is on track to complete the filling of the second line of the Nord Stream 2 undersea pipeline, which runs along the bed of the Baltic Sea towards Germany, between mid- and late December.

Nord Stream 2 is set to double annual Baltic gas export capacity to 110 billion cubic metres, providing relief to the European market which is struggling with tight supplies and rising prices.