Denmark’s energy agency announced on Tuesday that Nord Stream 2 AG, a subsidiary of Russia’s Gazprom, has been granted permission to carry out preservation work on the damaged Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea.
The pipeline, severely damaged by a series of mysterious explosions in 2022, requires maintenance to minimize environmental and safety risks, as it remains filled with seawater and residual natural gas.
“The work aims to preserve the damaged pipeline by installing customized plugs at each of the open pipe ends to prevent further gas blowouts and the introduction of oxygenated seawater,” the agency explained in a statement.
Nord Stream 2 AG had completed the $11 billion pipeline in 2021 to transport gas from Russia to Germany. However, Germany suspended the project as diplomatic ties with Moscow soured before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The United States also imposed sanctions, calling Nord Stream 2 a “Russian geopolitical project” and firmly opposing its revival.
In September 2022, explosions crippled one of the Nord Stream 2 lines and both lines of Nord Stream 1. Although the incident largely halted Russian gas exports to Europe, no party has claimed responsibility for the sabotage. Moscow has accused Western countries of orchestrating the attacks, though it has not provided evidence. Meanwhile, both the United States and Ukraine have denied any involvement.
According to the Danish agency, the damaged Nord Stream 2 line still contains an estimated 9-10 million cubic meters of natural gas, while the intact line remains filled as well. The preservation efforts aim to stabilize the pipeline’s condition and prevent further environmental hazards.
Despite these measures, tensions surrounding Nord Stream 2 persist. The U.S. issued additional sanctions on the operator and other Russian entities in December, reiterating its stance against the pipeline. For now, the damaged infrastructure serves as a stark reminder of the geopolitical rift and the disruption of Russian gas supplies to Europe.
