Sergey Kondratiev, Deputy Head of the Economic Department of the Institute for Energy and Finance, commented to the Kommersant newspaper about the blowing up of the Nord Stream-1/2 gas pipelines.
Sergey Kondratiev notes that it is now difficult to say what exactly happened, but the rate of pressure drop - from 300 to 7 bar, probably indicates that this is not a simple leak (due to a poorly welded seam), but, for example, about an explosion.
According to the expert, the Nord Stream 2 project is unique and so far there are no examples of accidents on underwater gas pipelines with a diameter of 1420 mm (this is also true for Nord Stream). Such accidents happen infrequently.
In his opinion, the repair work will take a long time, including due to the need to contract the necessary vessels, search for mechanisms for their payment, and other things.
“This incident may also have consequences for the gas market. Russia and Gazprom proposed launching Nord Stream 2 instead of Nord Stream, now this option will be at least limited to one branch, Sergey Kondratiev believes. In addition, if the accident occurred near the area where the Baltic Pipe gas pipeline from Norway to Poland passes, an additional examination of this gas pipeline will be required”.
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