Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline filling begins

Gazprom, the operator of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, said on Monday (4 October) that the filling process had begun, after its construction was delayed due to diplomatic tensions with Moscow.

"The process of entering gas into the first network of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline has begun," said a statement by the operator of the controversial 1,230-kilometre pipeline of Russian gas to Europe, located under the Baltic Sea. Later this October

According to the company, "this network will be gradually mobilized in order to reach the required stock as a prerequisite for technical testing later.

Prior to this filling process, the first network of the gas pipeline had undergone a “pre-service” test to ensure its safety, according to the source.

The operator of Nord Stream 2 said that the gas pipeline "was independently built and licensed in accordance with approved technical and industrial standards in order to ensure the reliability and safety of its operation."

Russia announced in early September the completion of this ten billion-euro project, which will increase European dependence on Moscow, according to its opponents in Europe and the United States.

The pipeline extending under the waters of the Baltic Sea is supposed to double deliveries of Russian gas to Germany, the main promoter of the project. Berlin faced strong criticism over the project, whether from the United States or even European countries, considering that Nord Stream 2 would "in the long run" increase the dependence of European countries in the field of energy on Russia, the great strategic opponent of Western countries.

The purpose of the pipeline is to double Russian gas shipments to Germany by bypassing Ukraine, which was once a traditional transit point. Ukraine has been locked in a conflict with Moscow since 2014.

The construction of this gas pipeline was completed at a time when gas prices in Europe have risen to record levels with low stocks ahead of winter. Gazprom is managing the project, which is financed by five European energy groups: OMV, ENGIE, Wintershall DEA, Uniper and Shell.

The route of this pipeline, which is capable of pumping 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year, is the same as that of "Nord Stream 1", which was established in 2011 and began operating in 2012. According to the data received, its operational efficiency amounted to 59.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas.

For years, Washington and Berlin have faced each other over the project, and Washington has already imposed sanctions on some of the entities involved in its work, before changing its position after the arrival of Joe Biden to the White House, and what followed by reaching a German-American settlement to try to put an end to this dispute. The agreement included punitive measures if Russia tried to use energy as a weapon, or carried out more aggressive actions against Ukraine.