In an intriguing twist to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, Germany’s energy regulator has “temporarily suspended” its certification process, due to the company created to own and operate the German section of the pipeline not having been properly set up. The certification process is expected to take four months, but will now likely take longer, and the delay has already pushed European gas prices up. There is also an EU-level assessment of the certificate that will take place, with a two-month timeframe, suggesting that the pipeline will not be operating for this European winter, and that it may not be operating until the second half of next year.