Nord Stream 2 pipeline project at risk

The United States is threatening to expand sanctions against Russia’s Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline to Germany by targeting companies involved in laying the final segment of the project


Nord Stream 2: Aims to double Nord Stream route’s existing annual capacity of 55 billion cubic metres of gas per year. Critics fear pipeline will increase Europe’s dependence on Russian energy supplies


Unfinished pipeline
160km-long segment

North Sea
100km 60 miles
DENMARK
SWEDEN
Bornholm (DEN)
Mukran
Lubmin
GERMANY
To Russia
Baltic Sea
POLAND


2015: Nord Stream 2 project agreement signed

2018: Pipelaying operations begin in Baltic Sea

Oct 2019: Denmark approves construction of final segment of pipeline in its waters

Dec: Swiss contractor Allseas suspends activity after introduction of U.S. sanctions on firms involved in pipelaying

Jan 2020: Russia’s state-owned Gazprom says it will finish project on its own

Jul 6: Denmark gives permission for Russian pipelaying ships to work in its waters

Jul 15: U.S. updates powerful Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) legislation – originally passed to enact sanctions on U.S. enemies such as Iran and North Korea – to include Nord Stream 2

Aug: U.S. considering further sanctions against pipeline, targeting investment firms, insurers and Germany’s Mukran port where construction vessels are based


Sources: Der Spiegel, Nord Stream 2, S&P Global Platts 
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