Construction operator Nord Stream 2 AG is making every effort to complete the construction of the gas pipeline as soon as possible. The launch of the gas pipeline meets the interests of European consumers, energy security and economic competitiveness of the EU, as well as obligations under the Paris climate agreements. A huge amount of money was invested in the project by several global companies and less than 5% of its total cost remains to be invested.
Pipe-laying ship "Academician Chersky" which is the main bidder for the completion of Nord Stream - 2 gas pipeline reached Kaliningrad on May 2, 2020. It constantly changed the route and points of arrival, its movements were the subject of interest in the whole world. "Academician Chersky" is currently the only Russian pipe-laying ship that can continue construction of Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which was interrupted by Swiss contractor Allseas due to US sanction threats.
On April 30, the ship was met by the Baltic fleet and the Royal Danish Navy at the Kattegat Strait between Denmark and Sweden. A helicopter from Sweden followed the pipelayer.
In February, the ship left Nakhodka in the Far East and went to Singapore, where it was supposed to arrive on February 22. Changing the final points of the route several times, the ship circumnavigated Africa, arriving in Las Palmas (Canary Islands). Further, the route was laid to Egyptian Port Said, where "Academician Chersky" was supposed to arrive on April 30. However, the ship headed North with a course for the port of Aberdeen in the UK. On April 26, "Academician Chersky" changed the end point, again indicating Nakhodka. Then the course was laid to Kaliningrad.
The efforts of "Akademik Chersky" will require at least two and a half months at almost the maximum speed for this vessel pipe laying - up to 5 kilometers per day. A more realistic period of work, taking into account the weather conditions, the intensity of pipe laying and preparatory work is about 4-5 months.
To carry out work in the Baltic, "Academician Chersky" needs re-equipment, which it will most likely undergo in Kaliningrad or Saint Petersburg. This will also take time - from two weeks to a month. Given these circumstances, it will not be possible to start laying the remaining part of the gas pipeline until June, and the construction will be completed in October - November this year.
The commissioning date of Nord Stream 2 (early 2021) has been brought into question due to the decline in global oil demand and the general decline in economic activity as a result of quarantine measures taken by European countries to counteract the global pandemic. But, according to experts, these factors do not affect the plans for completion of the gas pipeline.
Alexey Grivach, Deputy Head of National Energy Security Fund, also believes that the situation on the oil market will not affect the need and attractiveness of completion, as well as the launch date of Nord Stream 2. He stressed that this is a long-term project aimed at improvement of security and economic attractiveness of Russian gas exports to Europe.
German authorities have also expressed support for Nord Stream 2 and expect it to be completed.
Source:
https://rg.ru/2020/04/15/povliiaet-li-epidemiia-na-sroki-zapuska-severnogo-potoka-2.html
https://eadaily.com/ru/news/2020/05/01/akademik-cherskiy-podoshel-k-mestu-ostanovki-severnogo-potoka-2
https://radiosputnik.ria.ru/20200503/1570932775.html
https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/5eaffd339a79470cf9a1b59f
