Nord Stream 1 and 2 – latest

Nord Stream 1 and 2 are near-identical pipelines. They both run from Russia to Germany, on almost identical routes. Both comprise twin pipelines in themselves (A and B). All pipelines have the same volume/capacity. Following the September 2022 sabotage, present status:

  • Nord Stream 1A: 27.5 billion cubic metres per year – damaged (most critically of all)
  • Nord Stream 1B: 27.5 billion cubic metres per year – damaged
  • Nord Stream 2A: 27.5 billion cubic metres per year – damaged
  • Nord Stream 2B: 27.5 billion cubic metres per year – ready to go; could be put into operation immediately

Nord Stream 2B never received final approval from German regulators, but it is still pressurized and could resume pumping immediately. 27.5 billion cubic metres per year is about 8 percent of Europe’s annual gas imports.

Despite over 500 different sanctions on Russia, Europe is now importing more Russian LNG than before the 2022 invasion:

https://www.energyconnects.com/news/gas-lng/2024/december/europe-still-clings-to-russia-gas-with-record-lng-flow-this-year/
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=55019

Alice Weidel, leader of Germany’s AfD party, told a party conference (January 11, 2025) “We will put Nord Stream back into operation, you can count on it!”

Denmark’s energy agency (January 28, 2025) also authorized Nord Stream 2 AG – the Russian-owned company that operates the pipelines – to begin work capping the severed ends of the three destroyed pipelines. This is a first step to Europe restoring the supply. In President Trump’s first term, the US formally allowed the Nord Stream 1 pipelines to flow. Ric Grenell:

As part of our US policy under the Trump Administration, we thought Nord Stream 1 would be appropriate. It’s part of the diversification of energy. Nord Stream 1 was appropriate. But we said Nord Stream 2 went too far. You were allowing Russia to have too much influence over the energy of Europe. We said no. We sanctioned that pipeline. It never became operable under the Trump Administration. Chancellor Merkel was never happy about that. She wanted the sanctions dropped, and said things to me like, ‘You don’t understand Germany’s relationship with Russia. We can control them…They’re never going to leverage us like that.’ She was wrong. The German government was wrong. When the US government – the Democrats (Biden) – dropped the sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, and allowed that pipeline to come online, Putin saw that as incredible weakness and his signal to go in and start a war.

President Putin, October 2022:

If we come to an agreement with the Europeans to supply gas through the surviving branch – and one branch of Nord Stream 2, apparently, has survived… Unfortunately, we are not allowed to help inspect this branch, but the pipeline is holding pressure. It might be damaged, but we do not know this, because as I have said, we are not allowed to inspect it, but there is pressure, which means, apparently, that it is in working order... Russia is ready to begin deliveries. The ball is in the EU’s court. If they want to, they can just turn on the tap and that is that. I repeat that we are not restricting anyone or anything, and are ready to supply additional volumes in the autumn and winter period.

Ownership

The ownership structure of Nord Stream 1 is divided among several shareholders:

  • Gazprom International Projects LLC (51%)
  • Wintershall Dea AG (15.5%)
  • PEG Infrastruktur AG (E.ON subsidiary) (15.5%)
  • N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie (9%)
  • Engie (9%)

Nord Stream 2 AG, which owns the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, is fully owned by Gazprom.

Recommendation:

Insist that Europe leave the original Nord Stream 1 pipelines damaged and inoperate.

After a peace agreement has been signed between Ukraine and Russia, allow Nord Stream 2B to be turned back on immediately. This would return Europe to half of the gas it received from Russia pre-invasion – greatly aiding Germany and Europe’s energy crisis.

As suggested by Lt. General Kellogg: “We also call for placing levies on Russian energy sales to pay for Ukrainian reconstruction.” This is a terrific idea, and will help Europe (politically) in allowing the pipeline back on.

Allow Nord Stream 2A to be repaired – on the condition Nord Stream 1 remains inoperable.

Stephen P. Lynch wishes to buy Nord Stream 2. The deadline for restructuring the sale has been extended to May 9, 2025. Though this needs to be managed with Russia. Reuters: “Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday that the potential bankruptcy or sale of the operator of the completed but never launched Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline would amount to ‘theft’.”

Semantics

The US should only allow one set of pipelines to be put back in an operable state. Given the status of the pipelines, it makes clear sense for this to be the Nord Stream 2 pipelines.

The pipelines that are allowed to be restarted could potentially be renamed “Nord Stream 1” – so there is minimal confusion in thinking both sets of pipelines have been authorized.