Nord Stream 2
Nord Stream 2 (German–English mixed expression for "North Stream 2"; Russian: Северный поток — 2) is a 1,234-kilometre-long (767 mi) natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany running through the Baltic Sea, financed by Gazprom and several European energy companies. Feasibility studies began in 2011 to expand the Nord Stream 1 line and double annual capacity to 110 billion cubic metres (3.9 trillion cubic feet), with construction beginning in 2018. It was completed in September 2021, but has not yet entered service. Planning and construction of the pipeline were mired in political controversy over fears that Russia would use it, 1 of 23 pipelines between Europe and Russia, for geopolitical advantage with Europe and Ukraine.
| Nord Stream 2 | |
|---|---|
Map of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline | |
| Location | |
| Country |
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| Coordinates | |
| General direction | east–west–south |
| From | Ust-Luga, Russia |
| Passes through | Gulf of Finland and Baltic Sea |
| To | Lubmin near Greifswald, Germany |
| General information | |
| Type | Natural gas |
| Status |
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| Partners | |
| Operator | Nord Stream 2 AG |
| Manufacturer of pipes |
|
| Installer of pipes | Allseas (until 21 December 2019) |
| Pipe layer | |
| Expected | unknown |
| Technical information | |
| Length | 1,234 km (767 mi) |
| Maximum discharge | 55 billion m3/a (1.9 trillion cu ft/a) |
| Diameter | 1,220 mm (48 in) |
| No. of compressor stations | 1 |
| Compressor stations | Slavyanskaya |
| Website | www.nord-stream2.com |
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz suspended its certification on 22 February 2022, following official recognition of the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic by the Russian State Duma and President Putin during the prelude to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
On 26 September 2022, Danish and Swedish authorities reported a number of explosions at pipes A and B of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline and pipe A of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, with the resulting damage causing significant gas leaks. The European Union considers the incident to be sabotage of key European energy infrastructure. The Nord Stream explosions also resulted in the worst release of methane gas in human history, with estimates ranging from 100,000 to 400,000 tonnes (220 to 880 million pounds) of methane released into the atmosphere. In October 2022, Russia confirmed that Pipe B of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline escaped destruction, and offered to resume gas supply to Europe (which was promptly declined by Berlin).
Gas deliveries ceased in September 2022 following the destruction of three of the pipe lines and sanctions linked to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As of February 2023, there is no conclusive evidence of who carried out the sabotage despite three separate investigations by Denmark, Germany, and Sweden.