GS -2 and 3
Syllabus: Bilateral, regional and global groupings involving India and affecting India’s interests, Infrastructure: Energy, ports, roads etc
Context: Four leaks were reported at different points in the Nord Stream pipelines, linking Russia and Europe.
What are the Nord Stream pipelines?
Nord Stream 1 subsea pipeline:
- Nord Stream 1 was completed in 2011 and runs from Vyborg in Leningrad (Russia) to Lubmin near Greifswald, Germany.
- Majority ownership: The Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom has a majority ownership in the pipeline
- According to Bloomberg: 40% of Europe’s pipeline gas came from Russia before the war( now 9%).
Nord Stream 2:
- This is a 1,200-km pipeline that runs from Ust-Luga in Russia to Greifswald in Germany through the Baltic Sea.
- It will carry 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year.
- The Nord Stream crosses the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of several countries including:
- Russia
- Finland
- Sweden
- Denmark
- Germany
- Territorial waters of:
- Russia
- Denmark
- Germany
What will be the impact of the leaks?
- The pipelines are unlikely to provide any gas to Europe: In the forthcoming winter months, even if the political will to resume supply was found.
- Gas price spike: European gas prices spiked after reports of the leaks emerged.
- Environmental impact: Releasing GHGs(methane) will have an impact on the environment.
Impact on India: It may raise the cost of natural gas (already at its peak) for India and LPG/CNG consumers in India may have to bear the brunt.
Insta Links:
Mains Links:
Q. What are Nord Stream pipelines? Discuss the recent leakage crisis around it and the environmental effects of such a leak.
Prelims Links:
- Mapping of Nordic states
- Nord stream pipelines