It is unlikely that the only branch of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that remained intact after 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 has been 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 sabotaged in large explosions, with only one branch of Nord Stream 2 intact.
"The implementation of the remaining Nord Stream 2 pipeline is almost ruled out. Donald Trump will continue to promote the interests of US LNG producers and exporters in Europe. This is something he has been doing openly 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 remaining chance of Nord Stream 2 starting a branch is still there, but in reality, it is difficult to believe in this possibility, according to Mr. Alexander Frolov - Deputy Director General of the National Energy Institute, expert at the InfoTEK analysis center.
Alexey Grivach - Deputy Director of the National Energy Security Fund, an expert at the Valdai Club, the possibility of supplying Russian gas through the remaining branch of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline could happen if the geopolitical situation changes.
As Russian officials 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-making authority belongs to Germany, he added.
At the end of November 2024, there were reports that US 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 US investors.
Currently, negotiations are taking place in a Swiss court over the fate of the Nord Stream 2 - Nord Stream 2 AG pipeline operator. If the parties cannot agree on debt restructuring, the Nord Stream 2 operator will undergo bankruptcy proceedings.
Most experts believe that the news that the US investor is buying the Nord Stream 2 project is free personal PR.
Mr. Belogoryev pointed out that there is no intention or basis for this sale because Russia does not recognize Nord Stream 2 AG as bankrupt.
On the contrary, expert Maria Belova - head of research at Implementation - emphasized that in the event of liquidation by the Nord Stream 2 operator, all assets and payables of the company will be put up for sale. In this scenario, there is an other zero probability that an American investor will become the owner of Nord Stream 2.
"The second branch is still operational. That is the reason why in the case of a change of owner, there is a high possibility that the sanctions will be lifted, the pipeline will be certified and used at full capacity. The question remains open whether Gazprom will be willing to sell and supply gas via the pipeline under the conditions set by the US," Belova concluded.
