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The Russian pipe laying barge Fortuna arrived in Germany at the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline construction site bypassing Ukraine.
Its location was tracked using the Vesselfinder navigation portal, EADaily reports. There are already three Russian vessels in the unfinished section of the pipeline: the Katun, Baltic Researcher and Fortuna.
At the Nord Stream 2 base in Mukran, there is another Russian supply ship, Ivan Sidorenko, 25 miles from the group of ships.
They must end before December 31st the remaining section of the two gas pipeline lines. If Gazprom fails to do so in January, construction will not be able to continue due to inappropriate weather conditions.
“Obviously, the laying of pipelines will not start before tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Initially, the barge will be anchored, then work will be done to demobilize the equipment and lift the end of the pipeline already laid. Next, the supply vessels will start loading. the barge with pipes brought from Mukran, “writes the newspaper.
Previously, Russia issued work permit from December 5 to 31 Federal Office for Navigation and Hydrography of Germany. Work remains to be completed on the construction of 2.5 kilometers of both branches of the “Nord Stream-2” – a total of 5 kilometers. Fortuna can lay 1 km of pipe per day.
Earlier, Jens Müller, a spokesman for the Nord Stream-2 pipeline operator, said that the laying of pipes in the 9.5 billion euro section would resume on December 5. But as you know, the deadlines were frustrated again.
What is the danger of Nord Stream 2 for Ukraine?
Nord Stream 2 will avoid transit states (Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, and other Eastern European countries) through the exclusive economic zones and territorial waters of Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany.
The project is estimated at 9.5 billion euros. It is being implemented by Gazprom in alliance with the European companies Engie, Uniper, OMV, Shell, Wintershall. They pledged to finance Nord Stream 2 in total by 50%, i.e. for 950 million euros each. Gazprom will provide the second half of the funds: 4,750 million euros.
Ukraine, Poland, the Baltic States and the United States criticize the SP-2. In his view, the EU may become dependent on Russian gas. Ukraine also does not want to lose its role as a gas transit country. In this case, you will lose 3 billion in annual revenue. Berlin is committed to guaranteeing transit through Ukraine even after the construction of the gas pipeline.
As OBOZREVATEL reported:
