Russia’s damaged Nord Stream undersea gas pipelines will be sealed and preservedas there are no plans to repair them or bring them back into service, sources familiar with the matter revealed, cited by “Reuters”.
Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 – each consisting of two pipes – were built by Russian state gas giant Gazprom to deliver 110 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year to Germany under the Baltic Sea.
However, three of the pipes were ruptured by unexplained explosions in September last year, as only one of Nord Stream 2’s pipes is intact.
However, rising tensions between Moscow and the West over the incursion of Russian forces into Ukraine had halted Nord Stream 1 even before the accident and prevented its twin, criticized by Washington and Kiev for increasing Germany’s dependence on Russia, from entering service. .
Although “Gazprom” indicated that it is technically possible to repair the damaged linestwo sources familiar with the plans said Moscow sees little prospect of relations with the West improving enough in the foreseeable future to necessitate the pipelines.
Russia still considering whether to repair Nord Stream
There is also no decision on whether to export gas through the intact part of “Nord Stream 2”
During the last year Europe has drastically reduced its energy imports from Russia, and Gazprom’s exports outside the former Soviet Union nearly halved in 2022, falling to a post-Soviet low of 101 billion cubic meters.
A Russian source revealed that Moscow considers the project “buried”. Two others indicated that while there is no plan to repair the ruptured pipelines, they will at least be preserved for possible re-commissioning in the future.
That would most likely mean sealing the burst ends and placing a coating in the pipesto prevent further corrosion from seawater.
One of the Russian sources said that if liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States, which Europe uses to offset some of its Russian supplies, rises significantly in price, Europe may once again be ready to buy more from Russia.
Three leaks in Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 were discovered within a few hours on September 26.
The first of them was detected on Nord Stream 2 near the Danish island of Bornholm. Two Nord Stream leaks were then recorded. The Danish Energy Agency reported that a large amount of gas had entered the sea.
Russia jumps at Denmark, Germany and Sweden – covering US tracks for Nord Stream
The three parties specify that the investigation is ongoing
Later Swedish seismologists reportedthat they registered two explosions along the pipeline routes.
A few days later the Swedish Coast Guard discovered a fourth leak on the facilities.
Both Sweden and Denmark, which they conducted an investigation, they concludedthat the four Nord Stream leaks 1 and 2 are caused by explosions. However, they did not specify who might be responsible for the accident.
Western leaders called the incident a deliberate act of “sabotage”aiming to disrupt Europe’s energy infrastructure and supplies.
Russia wants emergency NATO meeting over Nord Stream
After an investigation that the US was behind the pipeline explosions
From his side Russia blamed the West for the explosions.
In February, American investigative journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Seymour Hersh reported that the administration of US President Joe Biden was behind the operation that blew up parts of the Nord Stream gas pipelines.
According to a Hirsch article published on February 8, explosives were planted under the gas pipelines by US Navy divers with the help of Norwegian specialists under the cover of the BALTOPS 22 military exercise last June. An anonymous source claimed that the US president personally authorized the operation after nine months of discussions with administration security officials.
