"The decision of European Commission from October 28, 2016 and agreement from November 28, 2016, thus, remain valid. It will allow the company operator of the OPAL pipeline after corresponding agreement with German regulator to hold auctions on access to the capacities of the pipeline, with Gazprom Export and other interested parties being able to participate in these auctions and reserve the capacities in the framework of these auctions," the statement read.
Germany's OPAL network operator announced on Friday that it planned to launch an auction on its gas pipeline's expanded transport capacities next week after receiving a green light from national regulators.
The OPAL pipeline connects Europe’s gas transportation network with the Nord Stream pipeline, which was built in 2010 to supply Russian gas along a Baltic Sea pipeline to northern Germany.