U.S. "disappointed" by Dutch role in Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline

Washington is disappointed the Netherlands allowed Dutch companies to participate in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, which Washington deems a threat to European security, U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra said.

Several Dutch multinationals, including Gasunie, are participating in the 11 billion euro ($12.4 billion) project to build a gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.

The pipeline is opposed by Washington and several eastern European and Nordic countries, which fear it will undermine Ukraine’s gas transit revenues and increase the EU’s reliance on Russian gas.

Gasunie holds a 9% stake in Nord Stream AG, the consortium for construction and operation of the pipeline between Vyborg in Russia and Greifswald in Germany.

“We would have hoped that the Dutch government, with those companies themselves, would have decided that they would not participate in the construction of Nord Stream 2.”

U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said on Tuesday in Kiev that a sanctions bill putting onerous restrictions on companies involved in the Nord Stream 2 project would come in the not too distant future. (Reporting by Anthony Deutsch; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and David Evans)