Page 15 - FSUOGM Week 27

FSUOGM POLICY FSUOGM

The Gazprom-owned
Akademik Cherskiy is
stationed at the German
port of Mukran.

Denmark permits Gazprom to anchor

vessels to finish Nord Stream 2

DENMARK DANISH regulators have granted the Gaz- permission to build the pipeline in October last
prom-owned Nord Stream operating company year. But the permit issued by the Danish Energy
permission to anchor pipelaying vessels, poten- Agency (DEA) did not authorise Gazprom to
tially clearing a path for work on the pipeline to anchor vessels. It requested a revision last month
resume. and that request has now been granted.
Construction of the 1,230-km Nord Stream “The change means that the company can
2 is almost finished, with just a 120-km section use pipelaying vessels with anchors, either
in Danish waters left to complete. But work was independent or in combination with DP pipe-
halted in December when a Swiss contractor laying vessels,” the DEA said in a statement on
suspended operations after the US slapped sanc- July 6.
tions on the project. Russia has deployed its own Nord Stream 2 is now anticipated to come on
pipelaying vessels to finish the job. stream in early 2021, Russian officials have said,
Ship-tracking data shows that Russia has more than a year behind schedule. It will flow up
two vessels, the Gazprom-owned Akademik to 55bn cubic metres of gas to Germany, helping
Cherskiy and the Fortuna, belonging to Mos- Gazprom reduce gas flows via Ukraine.
cow-based pipelaying company Mezhregion- A bill is making its way through US Congress
truboprovodstroi (MRTS), currently stationed that would impose additional sanctions on Nord
at the German port of Mukran. Stream 2, but it is doubtful whether additional
It is understood that Cherskiy is equipped measures would have an impact on the project
with the dynamic positioning (DP) system at this stage. But the physical completion of the
required to work in Danish waters, but it lacks pipeline is only one challenge that Gazprom is
a crane big enough for its 48-inch (1,220-mm) facing. The EU has legislated to apply its third
pipes. Fortuna, on the other hand, does not have energy package to the pipeline, meaning Gaz-
DP system but has a big enough crane. prom may have to divest the pipeline and offered
After some delay, Denmark granted Gazprom its flow capacity to third parties. ™

Week 27 08•July•2020 www. NEWSBASE .com P15