Nord Stream 2 construction to finish in Aug: CEO

The head of the Nord Stream 2 operating company told German media July 11 that the Russian pipeline's construction would be finished by August.

Matthias Warnig, the head of Nord Stream 2 AG, told Handelsblatt that construction on the network would be finished next month. With 98% of the pipeline completed, Warnig said the goal is to “put the pipeline into operation this year.”

Nord Stream 2 is the second leg of a dual natural gas pipeline system that runs through the Baltic Sea to the German coast. Some test operations in preparation of gas deliveries to Germany were completed in June.

The first of the two Nord Stream 2 lines – each can carry 27.5bn m³/yr –  is ready for filling with gas and the second strand is very near completion.

When asked in June by NGW about the technical certification of Nord Stream 2 that is needed for commissioning to start – and whether a replacement had been found following the November 2020 departure of Norwegian certification company DNV – a spokesman for the Swiss-based operator only said that planning, construction and operation complies with national permits and relevant legislation.

“The end result will be a pipeline that meets all approval requirements and international industry standards,” Warnig told Handelsblatt.

The US is opposed to the pipeline, saying it undermines European energy security by keeping links to Russian energy in place.