Posted by 
BERLIN — The German subsidiary of Russian gas company Gazprom will be put under trusteeship with immediate effect, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said Monday.
“With this order, my ministry … is temporarily appointing the Federal Network Agency as trustee for Gazprom Germania,” Habeck said during a brief press statement in Berlin.
“The order of trusteeship serves to protect public safety and order and to maintain security of supply,” he added, arguing that the step was “imperative” as Gazprom Germania runs “critical infrastructure” in the country.
Gazprom’s decision last week to dispose of Gazprom Germania and its shareholdings factored into the ministry’s decision, according to Habeck, as it created “unclear legal circumstances.”
“It was not announced who will be the new economic and legal owner of these holdings. This is in itself a violation of the notification requirement under the foreign trade and payments ordinance,” he said.
The ministry’s decision, which Habeck called a “transitory solution,” will be in effect until September 30.
“The government is doing what is necessary to ensure security of supply in Germany — this includes not exposing energy infrastructures in Germany to arbitrary decisions by the Kremlin,” he said.
Gazprom Germania was reportedly raided last week by EU antitrust officials as part of a probe into gas prices.
The European Commission confirmed it had carried out inspections at “several companies in Germany active in the supply, transmission and storage of natural gas” but declined to specify which entities.
America Hernandez and Simon Van Dorpe contributed reporting.
Source: Politico
