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