Nord Stream Pipeline: The explosive revelations from investigative journalists surrounding the alleged bombing of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in September 2022 have sparked heated debates and controversies. The newfound information has triggered intense discussions, raising questions and concerns about the incident and its potential implications.
About Nord Stream Pipeline 1
- Nord Stream is an export gas pipeline which runs under the Baltic Sea carrying gas from Russia to Europe.
- It is currently the longest subsea pipeline. The Nord Stream crosses the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of several countries including Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany, and the territorial waters of Russia, Denmark, and Germany.
- The gas for Nord Steam comes mainly from the Bovanenkovo oil and gas condensate deposit in Western Siberia.
About Nord Stream Pipeline 2
- It is an under construction gas pipeline between Russia and Europe.
- In 2015, Gazprom and 5 other European energy firms decided to build Nord Stream 2, valued at around $11 billion.
- The 1,200 km pipeline will run from Ust-Luga in Russia to Lubmin City in Germany, and will carry 55 billion cubic metres of gas per year.
- The under-construction pipeline will run along the already-completed Nord Stream 1 system, and the two together will supply an aggregate of 110 billion cubic metres of gas to Germany per year.
- The pipeline falls in German and Danish territory, and all but 150 km of pipes for the project have already been laid.
Issue
- In September 2022, a series of underwater explosions in the Baltic Sea led to the rupture of both the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines.
- Seismologists pinpointed the cause of the leak to be the underwater explosions that occurred in the same area.
Significance
The Nord Stream has significant economic and political implications for both Europe and Russia.
For Europe:
- The Nord Stream stands as a dependable and cost-efficient provider of natural gas, a vital energy resource for numerous European nations.
- Many European enterprises have made substantial investments in Nord Stream 2, exerting pressure on governments to support the pipeline’s operations.
- Any reduction in Russian gas supply would further elevate already high gas prices, potentially sparking domestic discontent.
For Russia:
- Russia, with the world’s largest natural gas reserves, relies heavily on gas and oil sales, which contribute around 40% to its national budget.
- The Nord Stream pipeline not only ensures revenue but also grants Russia a strategic position, enabling increased influence over Europe’s energy markets as a major natural gas supplier.
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