The German energy regulator's eagerly-awaited decision on fully certifying the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline won't come in the first half of next year, it said on Thursday, in a setback for the Russian project that has sparked global political tensions.
"There will be no decisions in the first half (of 2022)," Bundesnetzagentur President Jochen Homann said with regard to the certification process.
BNetzA said the operating company of Nord Stream 2 had started the process of setting up a subsidiary in Germany as required under German law.
It had halted its certification process - originally due to run until Jan. 8 - last month, pending the creation of the German subsidiary to comply with the law.
This creation has been initiated by Nord Stream 2, Homann said, adding that the BNetzA's review period would start again the moment Nord Stream AG delivered the required documents.
"This is not in our hands. Nord Stream AG alone is making that decision," Reuters cited him as saying.
Once the BNetzA has made a decision it will go to the European Union, which will then have another two months to review it, a period that can be extended by a further two months if needed.
