DPA
Rostock, Germany
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, built to carry natural gas from Russia to Germany, has completed another late stage of its construction ahead of the expiration of a partial permit, the company said on Monday.
Construction work on a 2.6-kilometre section in Germany’s Exclusive Economic Zone is finished, Nord Stream 2 confirmed to dpa.
Construction resumed on the controversial joint energy venture in early December, after a one-year pause.
Alexey Miller, chairman of Russian energy firm Gazprom, said last week that 94 per cent of the pipeline is now complete, covering a distance of over 2,300 kilometres.
The Nord Stream 2 is to carry Russian-sourced gas directly to Germany, the European Union’s top economy, via a route under the Baltic Sea similar to the currently operational Nord Stream line.
The United States says the pipeline threatens the security of NATO allies in the EU by increasing dependence on Russia and has slapped sanctions on the project.
Poland and the Baltic states have also expressed concerns.
Nord Stream 2 supporters accuse the US of only wanting to be able to better sell its own gas to Europe.
Media reports citing authorities in Denmark say work is to begin on the pipeline in Danish waters in mid-January.
The Russian pipe-laying vessel Fortuna is reportedly to begin its work off Denmark accompanied by additional Russian ships.
Denmark granted Nord Stream 2 an operating permit at the beginning of October.
The company said on Monday that information on further plans would be provided "in due course.”
Berlin has said that it does not plan to back down in the dispute with the United States over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Germany’s Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told dpa.
"We do not need to talk about European sovereignty if that is understood as us doing everything in future the way Washington wants us to,” Maas said in comments looking ahead to Joe Biden taking over the US presidency from Donald Trump on January 20.
Berlin is seeking a new start with Washington under Biden after relations deteriorated during Trump’s term.
But there will still be points of contention going forward, Maas said. "The German government will not change its stance on Nord Stream 2,” Maas said. "The important thing is that we are aligned on the central strategic and geopolitical issues, that we are on the same side of the field,” he said.
US policy on the matter is not expected to shift with Biden’s inauguration - the Democratic president-elect rejects the project, as does Trump.
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is to carry Russian-sourced gas directly to Germany, the EU’s top economy, via a route under the Baltic Sea similar to the currently operational Nord Stream line.
The US has condemned the pipeline as threatening the security of NATO allies in the EU by increasing dependence on Russia and has threatened new sanctions.
The pipeline was recently reported to be 94-per-cent complete.
Supporters of the pipeline project accuse the US of only wanting to be able to better sell their own gas to Europe.
Rostock, Germany
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, built to carry natural gas from Russia to Germany, has completed another late stage of its construction ahead of the expiration of a partial permit, the company said on Monday.
Construction work on a 2.6-kilometre section in Germany’s Exclusive Economic Zone is finished, Nord Stream 2 confirmed to dpa.
Construction resumed on the controversial joint energy venture in early December, after a one-year pause.
Alexey Miller, chairman of Russian energy firm Gazprom, said last week that 94 per cent of the pipeline is now complete, covering a distance of over 2,300 kilometres.
The Nord Stream 2 is to carry Russian-sourced gas directly to Germany, the European Union’s top economy, via a route under the Baltic Sea similar to the currently operational Nord Stream line.
The United States says the pipeline threatens the security of NATO allies in the EU by increasing dependence on Russia and has slapped sanctions on the project.
Poland and the Baltic states have also expressed concerns.
Nord Stream 2 supporters accuse the US of only wanting to be able to better sell its own gas to Europe.
Media reports citing authorities in Denmark say work is to begin on the pipeline in Danish waters in mid-January.
The Russian pipe-laying vessel Fortuna is reportedly to begin its work off Denmark accompanied by additional Russian ships.
Denmark granted Nord Stream 2 an operating permit at the beginning of October.
The company said on Monday that information on further plans would be provided "in due course.”
Berlin has said that it does not plan to back down in the dispute with the United States over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Germany’s Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told dpa.
"We do not need to talk about European sovereignty if that is understood as us doing everything in future the way Washington wants us to,” Maas said in comments looking ahead to Joe Biden taking over the US presidency from Donald Trump on January 20.
Berlin is seeking a new start with Washington under Biden after relations deteriorated during Trump’s term.
But there will still be points of contention going forward, Maas said. "The German government will not change its stance on Nord Stream 2,” Maas said. "The important thing is that we are aligned on the central strategic and geopolitical issues, that we are on the same side of the field,” he said.
US policy on the matter is not expected to shift with Biden’s inauguration - the Democratic president-elect rejects the project, as does Trump.
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is to carry Russian-sourced gas directly to Germany, the EU’s top economy, via a route under the Baltic Sea similar to the currently operational Nord Stream line.
The US has condemned the pipeline as threatening the security of NATO allies in the EU by increasing dependence on Russia and has threatened new sanctions.
The pipeline was recently reported to be 94-per-cent complete.
Supporters of the pipeline project accuse the US of only wanting to be able to better sell their own gas to Europe.