By Steve Holland and Timothy Gardner
WASHINGTON, June 12 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trumpsaid on Wednesday he was considering sanctions over Russia'sNord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline project and warned Germanyagainst being dependent on Russia for the fuel.
"We're protecting Germany from Russia and Russia is gettingbillions and billions of dollars from Germany," Trump toldreporters at an appearance with Polish President Andrzej Duda atthe White House.
Nord Stream 2, a 760-mile (1,225-km) pipeline project toship gas from Russia under the Baltic Sea to Germany, woulddouble the capacity of the existing Nord Stream pipeline and hasdivided the European Union.
Eastern European, Nordic and Baltic Sea countries see thepipeline as increasing Moscow's economic grip on Europe. Butmany politicians and energy companies in Germany support NordStream 2 because the country, Europe's biggest economy, needssteady gas supplies as it seeks to wean itself off of coal andnuclear power.
Nord Stream 2 is led by Russian state gas producer Gazprom, with 50% of the funding provided by Germany's Uniperand BASF's Wintershall unit, Anglo-Dutchfirm Shell, Austria's <OMV OMVV.VI> and France's Engie.
U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said last month that asanctions bill putting onerous restrictions on companiesinvolved in the project would come in the "not too distantfuture."
Any sanctions on European companies involved in the projectcould increase friction with countries including Germany,Austria and France.
Perry has visited Europe to promote U.S. exports ofliquefied natural gas (LNG) to help it diversify its sources ofnatural gas beyond Russia, which has occasionally stoppedshipments of gas via Ukraine during times of pricing disputes.
The administration of former President Barack Obama alsoopposed Nord Stream 2.
Trump said Nord Stream 2 "really makes Germany a hostage ofRussia if things ever happen that were bad."
U.S. LNG companies have made some long term deals withEuropean countries, but the shipments are also generally moreexpensive than gas sent by pipeline from Russia.
Earlier on Wednesday at the White House, Polish Oil and GasCompany (PGNiG) signed a deal to purchase 1.5 million metrictons of LNG per year from U.S. company Venture Global LNGstarting in 2023, bringing its total planned purchases from thecompany to 3.5 million metric tons per year.
Poland gets most of its gas from Russia, but its long-termcontract for gas supplies from Gazprom ends in 2022. Poland alsosigned an agreement with U.S. officials on civilian nuclearpower cooperation.(Reporting by Steve Holland and Timothy Gardner; Writing byDoina ChiacuEditing by James Dalgleish and Tom Brown)
