Moscow — The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline directly linking Russia and Germany via the Baltic will come online in the middle of 2020, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak was quoted as saying Thursday by the Prime news agency. “In the middle of next year,” Kozak told reporters in response to a question about when Russia expected the pipeline to become operational. His comments came just a day after Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Nord Stream 2 might still come online in late 2019, as was originally planned by sole shareholder in the pipeline company, Gazprom. However, the actual launch date depended on how quickly the operator would resume construction and fill the pipeline, he added. Denmark granted the final permit needed to complete construction of Nord Stream 2 on October 30. The timeline for work to lay the section of pipeline in Danish waters remains key to […]