"Impossible" to complete Nord Stream 2 – expert

It is practically impossible to complete the Nord Stream 2 project, as there are no technical or legal possibilities to this end, says Mikhail Krutikhin, a partner at the Russia-based RusEnergy consultancy.

"It's difficult to say when it will be completed, but I don't see any legal and technical possibilities to finish the project. Legally, it will be under sanctions, so few companies will opt for risks. Technically, the Fortuna pipe-laying ship isn't fit to work at large depths. Any company that starts retrofitting it will automatically be sanctioned," the Ukrainian online news outlet Obozrevatel quoted Krutikhin as saying on February 9.

So far, he says, the sanctions have not come into effect, because the Fortuna ship operates in Danish waters at a relatively shallow depths of 30 meters (100 feet), while sanctions envisage depths exceeding 30 meters. But there are also big depths on the site, therefore, the mechanism of sanctions will have to be applied.

"Part of the pipeline must also be laid in German waters, where there are also particular difficulties," he added.

Read alsoBloomberg: Merkel, Macron to put aside differences on Russian gas pipelineKrutikhin reminded that all works were halted at the request of an environmental non-profit, which drew the authorities' attention to the fact that the project violates the country's ecology legislation.

Nord Stream 2: Background

The Nord Stream 2 project envisages the construction and operation of two gas pipeline branches with a total throughput capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year from the coast of Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany. It should connect Russia's Ust-Lug and Germany's Greifswald. This new pipeline bypassing Ukraine is to be built next to the existing Nord Stream 1 pipeline.

The construction of the pipeline was expected to be completed before the end of 2019.

The pipeline will be 1,220 km long. The project is being implemented by Russia's Gazprom in alliance with European companies – ENGIE, OMV, Royal Dutch Shell, Uniper, and Wintershall. Ukraine stands against the construction of Nord Stream 2 as it will most likely lose its status of a gas transit country, while its potential revenue losses are estimated at US$3 billion annually. The project is also highly criticized by the U.S., Poland, and the Baltic States.

According to media reports, U.S. President-elect Joe Biden intends to do his best to prevent the construction of Nord Stream 2.

On November 4, 2020, the media reported that U.S. Congress wanted to expand sanctions against Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream.

Read alsoGermany may freeze Nord Stream 2 after September elections – mediaOn December 4, 2020, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said he doubted that the U.S. position on Nord Stream 2 would change after Joe Biden's inauguration.

On December 6, 2020, United States Charge d'Affaires to Germany Robin Quinville called on the EU and Germany to declare a moratorium on the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

On December 9, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with expanded restrictions against the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

On December 11, 2020, the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline resumed.

Germany's federal maritime regulator BSH says the construction work on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline could be stopped for an indefinite period in German waters but opponents still need to give detailed reasons to justify the halt.

On February 7, 2021, the Nord Stream 2 operator announced the start of pipe-laying in Danish waters.