The EU Council approved a European gas directive Monday that is expected to delay commissioning of the Nord Stream 2 gas line – and potentially leave it half empty

The EU Council approved a European gas directive Monday that is expected to delay commissioning of the Nord Stream 2 gas line – and potentially leave it half empty. Extending EU rules to non-EU pipelines, the directive will force Gazprom to “unbundle” or hand over operation of the line to a company independent of Russia’s state gas producer. Potentially, more serious, half of the pipe has to reserved for third companies. Given Gazprom’s gas export monopoly, this could leave half of the pipe empty until Russia’s creates a separate gas exporter. Ukraine’s Mission to the EU issued a statement welcoming the new rules.