For the first time, gas has been filled into the controversial Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline. However, the actual gas transport is still pending.
Lubmin (dpa) – The first gas has been filled into the controversial Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline. Nord Stream 2 AG announced that the filling of the first line began on Monday. The first filling is necessary before the gas transport can begin.
Nord Stream 2 AG did not provide any information about the planned time of the actual commissioning. Experts anticipate that gas could be delivered through the new pipeline in October. Gazprom plans to pump 5.6 billion cubic meters of gas through Nord Stream 2 this year.
According to the Federal Network Agency, a certification process for Nord Stream 2 is still running. This involves recognizing Nord Stream 2 AG as an independent transport network operator in accordance with an EU directive. Should Nord Stream 2 start transporting gas before this process is completed, the Bonn authority could initiate administrative offense proceedings and impose fines. The authority has until the beginning of January to make a decision.
The 1230-kilometer pipeline, which has two strands, is expected to deliver 55 billion cubic meters of gas annually. According to the operating company, this can supply 26 million households. Gazprom announced more than three weeks ago that the pipeline was completed.
Above all, the resistance of the USA, which threatened and also imposed sanctions, delayed construction, which began in 2018 and should have been finished in 2019. The US government criticizes that the pipeline makes Europe too dependent on Russia for its energy supply.
The Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which runs largely in parallel, has been partially in operation since 2011 and fully in operation since 2012. According to the operator, it was used to transport 59.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2020.