The Danish Energy Agency has allowed the operator of Nord Stream 2, Nord Stream 2, to preserve the pipeline line affected by sabotage by installing plugs. At the same time, the Danish regulator will need to provide further plans for the use of the second Baltic gas pipeline from Russia to Germany. And with The Danish Ministry of Defense — to coordinate the vessels for the work.
▼ читать продолжение новости ▼"On January 28, 2025, the Danish Energy Agency granted Nord Stream 2 AG permission to carry out a number of works at the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline facility in the Baltic Sea. The works are aimed at preserving the damaged pipeline by installing specially manufactured plugs at each of the open ends of the pipe to prevent further gas emissions and the supply of oxygenated seawater," the Danish regulator reports.▼ читать продолжение новости ▼
The agency noted that the gas pipeline operator will have to comply with a number of requirements.
"Among other things, the company must submit an annual plan for the pipeline facility so that the Danish Energy Agency can constantly monitor the company's plans for the future," the company said. The Danish Energy Agency.
They indicated that Nord Stream 2 plans to carry out work in the second or third quarter of 2025 (April 1 — September 30), and it is expected that it will take 2-3 weeks. The regulator estimates that approximately 9-10 million cubic meters of gas remain in the damaged line of the gas pipeline.
"The other line of Nord Stream 2 is not damaged and is filled with gas at a pressure of about 54 bar (reduced from 103 bar)," the Danish regulator added.
The line of the second Baltic gas pipeline was damaged near the territorial waters of the Danish island of Bornholm. The permit says that before conservation, it is necessary to cut off the damaged ends of the pipeline with plugs, since the current ones are deformed. In addition, before and after the installation work, stones will be laid at the ends of the pipeline to protect and stabilize the pipeline.
"The cut-off pipe segments are placed on the seabed directly next to the pipeline itself, unless Nord Stream 2 AG considers that it is safe to lift the pipe segments. Then the ROV underwater drone will direct the insulating plugs into the open ends of the pipes of the pipeline system. As soon as it is confirmed that the plugs are installed correctly, their closing mechanisms are activated via the interface on the ROV ... The estimated service life of the insulating plugs is 10 years after installation," the document says. Judging by the scheme, the "dropped" section of the gas pipeline will be more than 150 meters.
The permit also mentions that so far the operator of Nord Stream 2 has not provided a list of vessels for work, and it will be coordinated with the Danish Ministry of Defense.
"I think this is another step in the right direction. And also here you can read some demarche of the Danish authorities against Washington, perhaps in the context of Trump's claims to Greenland," said Alexey Grivach, Deputy Director of the FNEB.
The construction of Nord Stream 2 with a capacity of 55 billion cubic meters per year was completed in 2021, despite US sanctions. However, it never worked. The project passed the last stage, operator certification, when SMO began on Ukraine and the German government stopped the procedure. Then, on September 26, 2022, a sabotage occurred on the Nord Stream and Nord Stream—2. In the economic zone of Denmark and Sweden, three of the four strands of gas pipelines were blown up.
As EADaily reported, the version of sabotage by the Ukrainian side is being actively discussed in the Western media. At the same time, Pulitzer Prize winner Seymour Hersh published an investigation in which he wrote that the sabotage was organized and carried out by the United States with the support of the Norwegian military — during NATO exercises in the Baltic Sea, explosives were installed on gas pipelines, and in the fall they activated it using radio beacons dropped from an airplane.
In Switzerland, meanwhile, the bankruptcy case of the Nord Stream—2 operator continues.
"Nord Stream 2 AG still believes in future operation, as evidenced by the negotiations. According to Transliq AG, the gas company is planning a scenario according to which the pipeline will start operating in 2030 and will last for 50 years," ZentralPlus reported in December, citing a court hearing in Zug, Switzerland, where the future of the project was considered.
"I think we can all make the same assumptions. In this scenario, it is assumed that the geopolitical situation will be defused, at the same time, there is a high demand for energy in Western Europe. Accordingly, there is also a need for inexpensive sources of procurement and a gas pipeline," a representative of Transliq AG, who acts as the temporary manager of Nord Stream 2, told the judge.
According to him, the cost of restoring one line of the gas pipeline will amount to 633 million euros, while the second one has been preserved. The operator also hopes for insurance indemnities, for which litigation continues.
Transliq AG noted that the future of the gas pipeline will be decided together with the main creditors, which are German Uniper, Wintershall, Austrian OMV, British Shell and French Engie.