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What happened to the Nord Stream pipelines?

GS -2 and 3

Syllabus: Bilateral, regional and global groupings involving India and affecting India’s interests, Infrastructure: Energy, ports, roads etc

 

Source: The Hindu

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:

Nordic Nations

 

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

Which of the following is/are Nordic countries?

  1. Denmark
  2. Norway
  3. Estonia
  4. Finland

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

a. 1, 2 and 4 only

b. 2, 3 and 4 only

c. 1 and 2 only

d. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Ans: (a)

Justification: