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Situation in Ukraine slows down decision on OPAL gas pipeline — Wintershall CEO

The German pipeline OPAL is an overland continuation of the offshore gas pipeline Nord Stream

© PA/FILIP SINGER

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PARIS, June 2. /TASS/. The situation in Ukraine slows down the decision on the German pipeline OPAL - overland continuation of the offshore gas pipeline Nord Stream, Wintershall CEO Mario Mehren told journalists Tuesday.

"We wanted to speed up the process and are discussing the issue with all the stakeholders, including Gazprom and the German Federal Network Agency. But the situation with Ukraine slows down finding solution to this issue," he said.

In April, 2015 Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said that Russia resumed talks on the Opal pipeline status. "In fact, we’re carrying talks over again, from the position stated back in October 2013. In March, Gazprom applied to the German regulator on receiving 100% access to Opal," Novak said.

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