Page 11 - Gi_September2019

international news

US SENATE COMMITTEE BACKS Rand Paul, who said the measure
would harm US allies that are already
NORD STREAM 2 SANCTIONS countering Russian aggression.
“Congress has not only become
trigger happy, but sanction happy,”
said Mr Paul, who said the measure
would end up “sanctioning European
companies in allied nations”.
Mr Paul was joined by Tom Udall, a
Democratic senator from New Mexico,
NORD STREAM 2
who also raised concerns about the
impact of the bill on US allies.
“At a time when our most important
alliances are fraying around the world
thanks to the Trump administration’s
go-it-alone approach to world affairs —
including tearing up the Iran deal that
our European allies are still party to — I
am very concerned about alienating our
allies with counterproductive measures
that divide us.”
President Donald Trump has
slammed Nord Stream 2 and criticised
Germany, and Chancellor Angela Merkel
in particular, for backing a project that
would provide money to Russia at a
time when Nato is raising concerns
CONSTRUCTION ON THE PIPELINE CONTINUES APACE about Russian behaviour in Europe.
The legislation — which has a
THE US SENATE foreign relations Nord Stream 2, the controversial companion bill that has passed the
committee has approved a bill that pipeline that will carry Russian gas House foreign affairs committee —
would sanction companies that help to Germany, and also TurkStream, a appears to have strong support in the
Gazprom, the Russian state-owned gas Russian pipeline crossing the Black Sea Senate, where members are looking for
company, complete a controversial to Turkey that was finished in March. ways to punish Russia for interfering in
pipeline from Russia to Germany. The TurkStream pipeline, which the 2016 US election.
The committee voted 20-2 to will become operational this year, will The bill, which requires the backing
pass the Protecting Europe’s Energy supply gas to Turkey and at a later point of the full Senate, would authorise
Security Act, as nine of the 10 to the EU through a planned extension the imposition of sanctions on
Democrats on the panel joined with all through south-eastern Europe, reports companies that lay underwater pipeline
but one of the 12 Republicans. The Financial Times. and any companies that facilitate the
“This bill is a specific, targeted and “These pipelines could result in construction. The sanctions would
timely way to counter Russian malign further destabilisation of Ukraine range from the denial of visas to
influence,” said Jim Risch, the Idaho and enrichment of the Putin regime, executives of those companies to
Republican who chairs the Senate and they put at risk the security of export restrictions and other measures
foreign relations committee. NATO states,” Mr Risch said. that would make it difficult for the
Mr Risch said it would sanction The only Republican to vote against groups to conduct dollar-denominated
companies that install any pipes for the measure was Kentucky senator financial transactions.

EU OPENS HYDROGEN AND NUCLEAR LABS TO EXTERNAL RESEARCHERS

RESEARCH FACILITIES dedicated to nearly 100 proposals from 92
testing and developing hydrogen fuel research institutions, according
technologies as well as nuclear safety to Energy Live News.
are being opened for use by external Two facilities for developing
researchers and scientists. hydrogen fuel technologies are located
The European Commission said in Petten, in the Netherlands, where
researchers from across the region will researchers will conduct experiments
now have more opportunities to use the on fuel cells and gas tanks under
Joint Research Centre’s (JRC) facilities different environmental conditions.
JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE RESEARCHERS WILL CONDUCT EXPERIMENTS emission energy solutions. exploratory research in two new facilities
to run experiments that include zero
They will also be able to conduct
It follows the first round of the open
in Karlsruhe, Germany, to help develop
new nuclear equipment and materials.
access initiative, which attracted
ON FUEL CELLS AND GAS TANKS

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News.indd 6 15/08/2019 16:06