Kiev announced its readiness to launch Nord Stream 2

In an interview with Ukrainian Week, Andrey Kobelev said that the country is counting on such a price and balance of energy resources due to the presence of underground storage facilities and due to integration into the European transport system.

Despite the possible loss of income from transit and the loss of the "security component", Kobelev specified, there will be no shortage of gas in the country.

"We have prepared for such a scenario. If you look at the indicators of this summer, thanks to our underground storage facilities and due to full integration into the European gas transportation system, we will have a balance of energy resources and receive them at a fair price”, - said the head of Naftogaz.

He clarified that Ukraine is dependent on imports from Belarus.

"If tomorrow, for some reason, supplies from there stop, then the country may face rolling blackouts", - stated Kobelev.

Let us recall that the SP-2 project involves the construction of a gas pipeline from the Russian coast through the Baltic Sea to Germany. The operator of the project is Nord Stream 2 AG, the only shareholder of this company is Gazprom. Construction was suspended in December 2019 as Swiss Allseas abandoned pipe-laying due to possible US sanctions. However, Nord Stream 2 AG resumed laying in December last year. At the moment, more than 2300 km of the 2460 km of the gas pipeline have been laid.

On February 14, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced the readiness of the gas pipeline by over 95%.