It is highly unlikely that the only branch of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that survived the sabotage in 2022 will be launched under US President Donald Trump, experts said in an interview with TASS.
Nord Stream 2 was completed on September 10, 2021. Initially, the gas pipeline connecting Russia and Germany was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2019. However, construction was delayed due to US sanctions.
The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline consists of two branches, with a total capacity of 55 billion cubic meters per year. On September 26, 2022, three branches of the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines were damaged in large explosions, leaving only one branch of Nord Stream 2 intact.
"The implementation of the remaining Nord Stream 2 pipeline is almost excluded. Donald Trump will continue to promote the interests of American LNG producers and exporters in Europe. This is what he openly did during his first term as US president. Nord Stream is his main opponent in implementing this plan," Alexey Belogoryev, research director at the Institute of Energy and Finance, pointed out.
In theory, the chance of launching the remaining branch of Nord Stream 2 still exists, but in practice, it is difficult to believe in this possibility, according to Alexander Frolov, Deputy Director General of the National Energy Institute, an expert at the InfoTEK analytical center.
Mr. Alexey Grivach - Deputy Director of the National Energy Security Fund, expert at the Valdai Club, the possibility of supplying Russian gas through the remaining branch of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline may happen if the geopolitical situation changes.
“As Russian authorities have repeatedly stated, this branch of the pipeline is technically complete and can be put into operation in a relatively short time. Therefore, the decision is in Germany’s hands,” he added.
At the end of November 2024, there was news that American investor Stephen Lynch wanted to buy Nord Stream 2. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had not heard of Gazprom planning to sell Nord Stream 2 to American investors.
Negotiations are currently underway in a Swiss court over the fate of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline operator - Nord Stream 2 AG. If the parties cannot agree on debt restructuring, the Nord Stream 2 operator will enter bankruptcy proceedings.
Most experts believe that the news that American investors bought the Nord Stream 2 project is free personal PR.
Mr. Belogoryev pointed out that there was no intention or basis for this purchase because Russia did not recognize Nord Stream 2 AG as bankrupt.
On the contrary, Maria Belova, head of research at Implementa, stressed that in the event of liquidation of the Nord Stream 2 operator, all of the company’s assets and liabilities would be put up for sale. In this scenario, there is a “non-zero probability” that an American investor would become the owner of Nord Stream 2.
"The second branch is still operational. That is why in the event of a change of ownership, there is a high probability that the sanctions will be lifted, the pipeline will be certified and used at full capacity. The question remains whether Gazprom is ready to sell and supply gas along this route under the conditions set by the Americans," Belova concluded.
