The controversial pipeline that is supposed to bring Russian natural gas to Western Europe is 90 percent complete.
Pipes for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
Russia is making progress with the construction of the controversial Baltic Sea gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 despite the threats of US sanctions. The pipeline company announced on Monday that the section of the project in German waters had been completed.
Previously, data from the provider Refinitiv had shown that the Russian ship “Fortuna”, which is laying the pipes, had left the construction site in the Baltic Sea – a section of 2.6 kilometers.
The ship is now on its way to the port in Wismar. Construction is to continue in Danish waters in mid-January. The ship had resumed work on the pipeline that will pump Russian gas to Western Europe earlier this month. A year ago they had largely come to a standstill under pressure from the USA. The line is around 90 percent ready, a little more than 100 kilometers are still missing.
Most recently, Washington said that the US government was preparing further sanctions and urging European allies and private companies to stop work on the construction of the pipeline. The US management is a thorn in the side. The administration of outgoing President Donald Trump as well as congressmen from both parties complain that the Europeans are becoming dependent on Russian natural gas.
President-elect Joe Biden has also criticized the project in the past. At the same time, the US wants to sell its own natural gas to Europe.
OMV involved
Nord Stream 2 is the second Baltic Sea pipeline between Russia and Germany and is intended to bring Russian natural gas to Western Europe. The Russian state-owned company Gazprom is behind the project and is expected to cover half of the planned total costs. The other half is financed by the European energy companies Wintershall Dea, OMV, Uniper, Royal Dutch Shell and Engie.
