Pipeline “Nord stream-2” (SP-2), designed to bring Russian gas under the Baltic sea to Germany, has long been a subject of hot political struggles on a global scale. The pipe itself is already laid at 93%, but 7% still remain unresolved. Strip in the Danish waters of the Baltic sea actually frozen since March under the influence of us sanctions. Meanwhile, the situation around the pipeline continue to boil, without stopping. After much wrangling, the Danish regulators still allowed the Russian barge “Fortuna” to participate in the project. “Fortuna” has already moved to the place of work, and soon it promises to join the laying vessel “Akademik Chersky”. Meanwhile, on the road SP-2 can still be serious obstacles, the main of which are the new us sanctions. Because of a new Russian gas route Washington is even ready to fight with its main partner in the European Union — Germany. As stated by the head of the state Department Mike Pompeo, United States will impose additional restrictions against Russian gas: “Get out now or you go on a risk,” he warned investors. – “SP-2” is a tool for “abuse and the expansion of Europe’s dependence on energy supplies”, so it will be taken the tough new restrictions. How will they differ from the latest package of sanctions against “SP-2”, which Washington was typed before? Whether the pipeline is completed and when the Europeans will get the first batch of blue fuel on the “Nord stream-2”? These questions were answered by the leading expert of the national energy security Fund, an employee of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation Igor YUSHKOV.
Why still not started completion SP-2? After a six-month journey halfway around the world beating Russian laying vessel “Akademik Chersky” reached the waters of the Baltic sea. It could promptly get to work?
— Indeed, in the early summer a ship came to the German port of Mukran, which is the point of supply SP-2. There are stored pipe and everything needed for the construction of the pipeline components. It is from this starting point by the technical supply process. In the same port on the neighboring berth, stood the lay barge “Fortuna”, which also supplied the parts required for the future construction of the pipeline. Both vessels were able to start work any time because it met all the legal and technological characteristics of the European standards. Including requirements, which presented Denmark to lay the pipe in the water area.
the Main problem was sanctions. The requirements that apply to Denmark, with��the bottom of pipelaying that will work in its waters, must possess the so-called dynamic positioning system. It is necessary to ensure that when the pipe laying vessel could control their movements to stay in one place. “Fortuna” such a system does not possess. The operator of the Nord Stream project 2 has applied to the Danish government with the request to allow the barge to get to work. The operator has proposed to strengthen the barge to put to her a few tugs on the ropes which could, if necessary, to maneuver and not to allow the ship to deviate from areas of production operations.
— But permission from Denmark received. For what it was?
— In previous times, when the Danes are considered the second application Nord Stream 2, they were repeatedly delayed responses that has become the main obstacle for launching the pipeline in a time — until the end of 2019. In turn, “Gazprom” was trying to understand whether it is used in the completion of the pipeline one or two of the prepared vessel. As you can see, now, “fortune” gave permission, and she moved on. Now it will go much faster. To complete the project you want to build two lines: one with a length of about 70 km, the other is 40 km away. This area, which was so short, paved the fastest pipe layer in the world of Pioneering Spirit. Now “Gazprom” it is necessary to decide how the future distribution of works: construction of one leg can be charged “Academician” and the other “fortune”. There is also a version according to which “Academic Chersky” and failed upgrades to welding large diameter pipes, which are used in SP-2 (formerly the ship was built a gas pipeline on the Sakhalin shelf, where the pipe was smaller diameter), and “fortune” it’s hard to lay pipe at greater depths. Therefore, the court can work together: “Fortuna” will weld the pipes to pass the string on “Academic Chersky”, and he would put it on the bottom.
Technological circumstances — the only one for which the construction of the SP-2 is still not completed?
— According to another version, Germany, which actively supports SP-2, and her company are members of the project, delayed time, because the United States has threatened new sanctions (Washington is going to impose restrictions not only on German companies, but also governmental structures of this country, if Berlin will continue to support the completion of the pipeline. — “MK”). Perhaps the major promises of the Germans that they turn to Russia, was: “don’t start actively finish building the pipe, and then the Americans were to close my eyes on lobbyist statements in favor of SP-2, which makes our policy The European Parliament. Otherwise, Washington will take the tough decisions.” Berlin asked Moscow to delay the holding of styling to German lobbying had an effect.
— How Russia is prepared to compromise for the sake of completion of the SP-2?
— After the pipe is laid by 93% — from the German coast and it is visible in binoculars, is to abandon the project nobody wants. For Russia, the completion of the SP-2 is a fundamental question. President Vladimir Putin is interested in history and sees the analogy of the average of limitations with respect to the current situation. In Soviet times, the Americans also tried to prevent the beginning and increase the supply of natural gas from our country to European country. If now Washington offers Europe to refuse Russian gas in favor of LNG, then he was pushing cheap coal, produce their own fields. However, the Kremlin managed to cope with all the obstacles, and now the share of Russian gas in the European energy balance amounts to 40%. Therefore, Putin fundamentally again to cope with the pressure of the sanctions.
— what was the associated legal conflicts surrounding the draft and hindering the process? Why “Gazprom” has transferred both laying in the property of the independent agencies?
— “Gazprom”, most likely, wanted to play it safe and de jure to move away from “Academic”. Fortuna already owned by another private company — “Mezhregiontruboprovodstroy”, which owns several barges. “Academician” owned “Gazprom FLOT”. This company belongs to “Gazprom” and also under U.S. sanctions. Now the owner has changed to a “Samara thermal power property Fund,” which restrictions do not seem to relate.
Although the text of the sanctions from 2019 States that in the case where such maneuvers are carried out, the new owner of the vessel is automatically subject to sanctions, the lawyers of “Gazprom” took the turn to hide the “Academician” from the constraints. There have been cases when new sanctions legally remote “daughter” do not fall under them. For example, one of the domestic holdings some time ago, exported Venezuelan oil. To block the channel of supply, Washington imposed sanctions on its two trading subsidiaries, but the parent company of limitations has not spread, and deliveries continued. “Gazprom” tried to repeat this trick, only this time the gas company wanted to keep from hitting “Gazprom FLOT”. The company had hoped that when “Academician” will reach the Baltic sea, the sanctions will not go to the parent company. However, the Americans are trying to squeeze the Russians out of the global gas market. So Washington it is important to impose limits on itself “Gazprom”, which now, in fact, the sanctions do not apply. So the company tried to shield themselves from claims and eliminate the risks due to a little-known Samara Fund. However, when “Academician” is still moved in the waters of the Baltic, Gazprom realized that in the sanctions list, he may soon join his “daughters,” and the sacrifice was ready to go.
what is the difference between the latest package of U.S. sanctions against SP-2 from those that Washington was typed before?
— the Main message of the sanctions is the desire of the Americans to prevent the expansion of Russia in the European energy market. However SP-2 does not imply the signing of new contracts for the supply of gas. Volume of export of Russian gas do not change. Our country is only diversifitsirovat supply routes.
Washington also contradicts himself: on the one hand, the Americans claim that they are acting in the interests of their friendly Ukraine. After the completion of the SP-2 can lead to stop transit of Russian gas through Ukrainian territory and a severe crisis in the economy Square. On the other hand, Washington does not hide, and it is written in the long-adopted package of sanctions that the restrictions against Russia are introduced to support extractive companies in the US.
Americans are struggling to prevent the creation of a robust new pipeline from our country to Europe. They expect to control the fuel market of the Old world: to lock up Russia on the Ukrainian transit, then, under any pretext, this transit block, to achieve deficits and increase in gas prices in European countries and to expand the supply of LNG to Europe. This will lead to an increase in hydrocarbon production in the U.S., increase jobs there.
the Latest package of sanctions against SP-2 konkretisiert those restrictive measures, which were recorded in the previous package, adopted last year. Now can deny to insure and upgrade vessels participating in the project. Also sanctions can be imposed on the tugs, which brought a new batch of pipes to the construction site.
Another important aspect that is of particular concern to the German side, are a ban on the maintenance work of the pipeline and possible misunderstandings associated with the issuance of various certificates. The fact that all sites SP-2, passing through the territory of Germany, had built. After the start of operation of the pipeline, the Germans will have to maintain its stable performance and monitor compliance with environmental regulations. In the new package of restrictive U.S. sanctions against companies that service the pipe. Many of them have German citizenship.
— in Other words, Washington is ready to go due to the Russian pipeline to a direct conflict with��AMI’s main ally in Europe — Berlin?
— Yes. And German society is increasingly tightening resentment of American influence on SP-2 to which Washington has no relations. Among the Germans there is a growing irritation. It is possible that the reduction in the number of American troops on German territory is also linked to disagreement on the SP-2.
So what are the prospects for Russia in the European energy market? Will Russian gas is the most competitive form of blue fuel? Will not replace if its growing LNG supply from Qatar and the United States?
— At cost, American LNG is losing the Russian raw materials. The actual production of shale fuel currently requires a serious investment. Followed by the cost of gas liquefaction and its transportation to the buyer. Recently, the company engaged in the supply of raw materials from the US to the EU, are suffering losses.
this is not the case with liquefied fuel from Qatar, which is considered the most efficient in the world. But mostly the export of LNG from this country directed toward Asia, including Japan, China and South Korea. Although Qatar is exporting natural gas to Europe, significantly increase its deliveries to the Old world Doha is not in a hurry, considering it inappropriate. Therefore, the “Gazprom” are more likely to keep its share on the European market.
— Can we say that the last obstacles in the way of SP-2 will be completed in the foreseeable future the pipeline will be built? In what terms should expect its commissioning?
— the Obstacles that was created in 2019, us sanctions remained. They may be reinforced by the introduction of new sanctions that will prohibit the insurance of vessels participating in the completion of the SP-2, and other similar measures. But “Gazprom” is able to overcome all these difficulties. Therefore, the stage of completion is likely to be completed. However, everything will depend on the Europeans. Will they carry their own laws and give permission to put the pipeline into operation, or will ignore its own legislation, to execute the sanctions of the United States — this question remains open. It is anticipated that SP-2 will be commissioned in the first quarter of 2021-th.
WHAT IS the “Nord STREAM-2”?
the Main gas pipeline from Russia to Germany through the Baltic sea
the Length is 1234 km (two thread — 2468 km).
the capacity of each of the thread — 27,5 billion cubic meters per year.
Runs through the economic zones and territorial waters of Germany (85 km), Denmark (147 km), Russia (118 km), Finland (374 km) and Sweden (510 km).
Capital expenditures — €8 billion.
the Total project cost — €9,9 mlrd.
the Main investors — Engie (France), OMV (Austria), Royal Dutch Shell (UK/Netherlands), Uniper and Wintershall (Germany) — each for €950 million.
the Operator and managing company of the project is Nord Stream AG 2 (on 100% belongs “to Gazprom”).
Originally, the commissioning was scheduled for the end of 2019, but because of the delays associated with the refusal of Denmark to the permission for laying the pipeline in its territorial waters, the beginning of operation of SP-2 has been postponed. A new date named “Gazprom”, — the beginning of 2021.
