Kremlin Denies Nord Stream-2 Deal May Be Signed at Eastern Economic Forum

Earlier in the day, Russian newspaper Kommersant reported citing its sources familiar with the matter that Russia's energy giant Gazprom could sign an agreement on construction of the Nord Stream-2 during the Eastern Forum, to be held in the Russian city of Vladivostok this week.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected reports on Monday that an agreement on the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline could be signed at the Eastern Economic Forum in early September.

"As far as I am aware, this information is false. Such a signing is not planned," Peskov told reporters.

In June, Gazprom announced plans to build two additional branches to the Nord Stream gas pipeline from Russia to Germany in a joint project with E.ON, Shell and OMV, with an estimated cost of 9.9 billion euro (over $11 billion at the current exchange rates).

The Nord Stream-2 project, which will be 86-percent the same as the Nord Stream route, could provide direct gas supplies of up to 55 billion cubic meters a year to European customers if implemented.