TotalEnergies CEO suggests possible Nord Stream pipeline revival

TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne suggested that the Nord Stream gas pipelines from Russia to Germany might return in the future. He noted that some European industries may need Russian gas to remain competitive. Pouyanne expressed that he could see two of the pipelines coming back online. The Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines have been inactive since gas leaks were found in September 2022. Nord Stream 2 never started operations after Germany halted its approval process following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Russia closed Nord Stream 1, citing issues caused by Western sanctions. Meanwhile, discussions about reviving the pipelines have drawn criticism. Germany’s former economy minister, Robert Habeck, stated that focusing on Nord Stream after the invasion of Ukraine is misguided. Estonia’s Foreign Minister emphasized that Nord Stream 2 should remain underwater and not be part of Europe’s energy market.