The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is not exempt from EU rules requiring owners of pipelines to be different from the suppliers of the gas that flows in them to ensure fair competition, the Duesseldorf Higher Regional Court ruled on August 25. It has rejected a challenge from the operators of the Gazprom-backed (project to carry gas who had argued the rules were discriminatory. The operating consortium had sought a review of a decision in May 2020 by the German energy regulator, the Bundesnetzagentur, declining to grant the project an exemption. This development is likely to delay the opening of the Russo-German pipeline which is almost compete. Under EU regulations, unless a further appeal succeeds, the company transporting the gas must auction its capacity to third parties.