Nord Stream 2 operator sued Norwegian energy company Equinor, accusing the company of refusing to provide support after the pipeline was damaged in an explosion in 2022.
In September 2022, an explosion occurred on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The Russian operator has sought Equinors help in investigating the cause of the incident, stressing that the Norwegian company is obliged to provide support under industry commitments.
Equinor has rejected the request, citing sanctions imposed by the European Union after the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out in February 2022.
"We cannot support Nord Stream 2 because this would violate the sanctions imposed by the European Union on the Russian Federation," Equinor Ola Morten Aanestad spokesperson explained in an interview with PAP.
The Gazprom-owned Nord Stream 2 pipeline is expected to transport 54 billion cubic meters of Russian gas to Europe each year. The underwater explosion in 2022 also destroyed the Nord Stream pipeline running parallel to Nord Stream 2.
After the shocking sabotage, Europe faces an energy crisis. The situation has improved partly thanks to Norway's gas supply. According to Equinor data, Norway's supply will meet about 30% of Europe's demand by 2024.
The trial of the Nord Stream 2 operator and Equinor case will be held in a court in Stavanger, Norway. The parties did not disclose the compensation claim in the lawsuit.
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline was completed in September 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.
Although completed, Nord Stream 2 has never been officially put into operation because Germany temporarily suspended certification on February 22, 2022 before the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out.
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, two branches of the Nord Stream pipeline and one branch of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline were sabotaged in a major explosion, with only one branch of the Nord Stream 2 remaining intact.
