German regulation threatens vital gas-infrastructure development

Bottlenecks in Germany's pipeline system threaten gas supply security in Europe, even if Nord Stream and other big import projects go ahead, writes NJ Watson

IN ITS QUEST for energy security, the EU's attention has focused on building large, trans-national natural gas pipelines, such as Russia's Nord Stream and Nabucco. However, inadequate regulation in Germany may stifle the investment in local network infrastructure that is needed to enable the onward transmission of the gas to its various target markets. European gas suppliers, importers and infrastructure companies all expressed concern at October's World Gas Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, that recent changes to Germany's regulation of its gas-transport system will make an already difficult situation worse. In September, Germany's network regulator, Bundesnetzagentur, said gas grids