Operating Germany’s Opal gas pipeline at 100 percent would address regional transit issues for Europe and Gazprom alike, Russia’s energy minister said Tuesday. “It would be rational if the European Commission granted permission for full load of Opal, in the context of improving assurance guarantees [for the supply of gas] to European consumers,” Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said . Russian President Vladimir Putin he was optimistic the pipeline would run at full capacity after he met in Brussels with members of the European Union. The pipeline connects to the Nord Stream system through the Baltic Sea and can carry 1.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas per year. European regulations regarding gas monopolies mean the pipeline operates at about half that capacity. Novak said it was be a “rational” decision for the European Commission to extend a waiver for the German pipeline system. “Though […]