Norway firm refuses to certify Russia's Nord Stream 2 over new U.S. sanctions – media

Norway's risk management and quality assurance firm DNV GL has refused to certify Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline when its construction is completed over new U.S. sanctions.

Read alsoNord Stream 2 pipelaying in German waters completedAccording to the current situation, DNV GL cannot issue a certificate upon completion of the pipeline construction, the Russian news agency RBC reported on January 2, referring to DNV GL.

The launch of the pipeline operation is impossible without such a certificate.

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 Congress wants to expand sanctions against Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream.
• On 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 NDAA with expanded restrictions against the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.