German regulator reduced Gazprom's access to the OPAL system
The German energy regulator, Bundesnetzagentur, has reduced the limit of use of the OPAL gas pipeline for Russian Gazprom to the same level that was installed before, to 50%. As stated in the press-service of the company on Facebook, "The German regulator reduced the limit for Gazprom to use the OPAL pipeline to its former 50% but the actual amount of this reduction has not yet affected the actual volumes."
In late October, the European Commission allowed Gazprom to increase its pumping gas capacities through the OPAL pipeline that unites the North Stream with the gas transportation system of Central and Western Europe. That was the case as only 50% of the gas pipeline’s capacity was available for the Russian company earlier.
The EU’s decision allowed the Russian company to access more than 32% of the pipeline and thus, to increase export through this channel bypassing Ukraine for more than 9 billion cubic meters of gas.
Andriy Kobolev, the CEO of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine, stated that the access of Gazprom to the OPAL can reduce transit revenue for Ukraine from gas pumping from 290 million dollars to 425 million dollars.
In early December, the polish energy company PGNiG challenged the European Commission’s decision in court.