Reports related to this article:
Project(s): View 3 related projects in PECWeb
Released January 27, 2021 | GALWAY, IRELAND
en
Written by Martin Lynch, European News
Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Germany and Denmark have signed off on the final stages of construction of the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the face of strict sanctions from the U.S..
Germany's Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency's (BSH) has granted permission for the construction of the 9.5 billion-euro ($10.5 billion) pipeline from Russia to continue despite U.S. sanctions threats and pressure from environmental groups. The permission covers the laying of final pipeline in the German Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) over a length of approximately 16.5 kilometres (km). The permission extends the time window for the laying of the pipeline which runs in the Baltic Sea south of Bornholm through the Pomeranian Bay to Lubmin.
A new Russian pipe-laying ship called "Fortuna" completed a 2.6-km section of each branch of the gas pipeline in German waters in December but had to stop when its permit expired at the end of 2020. The new permit allows for work to continue until May. However, the U.S. government has said it will impose sanctions on the Fortuna and its owner, the Russian company KVT-RUS.
Responding to environmental concerns, the BSH stated: "After carefully examining [environmental submissions regarding resting birds] and fully evaluating them, the BSH was unable to determine any significant effects if the ship was relocated using an anchor-positioned ship in this requested period. The remaining route runs on the edge of the bird sanctuary, which is of little importance for certain species of resting birds due to the water depth of approx. 20 m . On the other hand, the pipeline runs for approx. 10 km through a traffic separation area in which relatively few resting birds can be found due to the intense traffic."
Nord Stream 2 comprises two parallel pipelines running 1,230 km for the transport of gas from Russia via Germany to Europe. It passes through Finnish, Swedish, Danish and German marine areas before going ashore at the German coast. The pipelines can transport 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, doubling the capacity of the existing Nord Stream Pipeline. The project is 50% owned by five European oil and gas companies: Royal Dutch Shell plc (NYSE:RDS.A) (The Hague, Netherlands), OMV AG (OTC:OMVKY) (Vienna, Austria), BASF/Wintershall (Ludwigshafen, Germany) and ENGIE (EPA:GSZ) (Paris, France).
The project, which is more than 90% complete, has been delayed over the past year after the growing threat of U.S. sanctions against companies involved. Last January, Industrial Info reported that Swiss-based pipe-laying and decommissioning firm Allseas, which was responsible for pipe-laying on the Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream gas transit projects, had announced it had stopped working on both projects to comply with U.S. sanctions. For additional information, see January 6, 2020, article - U.S. Sanctions Stop Nord Stream 2 Pipe-laying.
In Denmark, the Danish Maritime Authority notified shippers that prohibited areas near Bornholm would be established in January for the pipe-laying vessel Fortuna, assisted by construction and supply vessels. Denmark was the final stumbling block for the pipeline project but finally granted permission in October last year. For additional information, see October 13, 2020, article - Denmark Clears Way to Finish Nord Stream 2 Pipeline.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Our European headquarters are located in Galway, Ireland. Follow IIR Europe on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn For more information on our European coverage send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.eu or visit us online at Industrial Info Europe.
Germany's Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency's (BSH) has granted permission for the construction of the 9.5 billion-euro ($10.5 billion) pipeline from Russia to continue despite U.S. sanctions threats and pressure from environmental groups. The permission covers the laying of final pipeline in the German Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) over a length of approximately 16.5 kilometres (km). The permission extends the time window for the laying of the pipeline which runs in the Baltic Sea south of Bornholm through the Pomeranian Bay to Lubmin.
A new Russian pipe-laying ship called "Fortuna" completed a 2.6-km section of each branch of the gas pipeline in German waters in December but had to stop when its permit expired at the end of 2020. The new permit allows for work to continue until May. However, the U.S. government has said it will impose sanctions on the Fortuna and its owner, the Russian company KVT-RUS.
Responding to environmental concerns, the BSH stated: "After carefully examining [environmental submissions regarding resting birds] and fully evaluating them, the BSH was unable to determine any significant effects if the ship was relocated using an anchor-positioned ship in this requested period. The remaining route runs on the edge of the bird sanctuary, which is of little importance for certain species of resting birds due to the water depth of approx. 20 m . On the other hand, the pipeline runs for approx. 10 km through a traffic separation area in which relatively few resting birds can be found due to the intense traffic."
Nord Stream 2 comprises two parallel pipelines running 1,230 km for the transport of gas from Russia via Germany to Europe. It passes through Finnish, Swedish, Danish and German marine areas before going ashore at the German coast. The pipelines can transport 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, doubling the capacity of the existing Nord Stream Pipeline. The project is 50% owned by five European oil and gas companies: Royal Dutch Shell plc (NYSE:RDS.A) (The Hague, Netherlands), OMV AG (OTC:OMVKY) (Vienna, Austria), BASF/Wintershall (Ludwigshafen, Germany) and ENGIE (EPA:GSZ) (Paris, France).
The project, which is more than 90% complete, has been delayed over the past year after the growing threat of U.S. sanctions against companies involved. Last January, Industrial Info reported that Swiss-based pipe-laying and decommissioning firm Allseas, which was responsible for pipe-laying on the Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream gas transit projects, had announced it had stopped working on both projects to comply with U.S. sanctions. For additional information, see January 6, 2020, article - U.S. Sanctions Stop Nord Stream 2 Pipe-laying.
In Denmark, the Danish Maritime Authority notified shippers that prohibited areas near Bornholm would be established in January for the pipe-laying vessel Fortuna, assisted by construction and supply vessels. Denmark was the final stumbling block for the pipeline project but finally granted permission in October last year. For additional information, see October 13, 2020, article - Denmark Clears Way to Finish Nord Stream 2 Pipeline.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Our European headquarters are located in Galway, Ireland. Follow IIR Europe on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn For more information on our European coverage send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.eu or visit us online at Industrial Info Europe.
