To spite America: the timing of the Nord Stream-2 completion has become known

Alexey Belogoryev commented on the prospects for completing the Nord Stream 2 project to News.ru.

If the construction of Nord Stream 2 goes on continuously, then it will be possible to complete it in autumn with the help of Fortune alone, Aleksey Belogoryev, Deputy Director for Energy at the Institute for Energy and Finance says. If one more vessel, the Akademik Chersky, joins the project, the gas pipeline may be ready by July.

I believe that in reality the paving speed will be less than 1 km per day. Now "Fortuna" is working in the German sector - in shallow water. It is difficult to say what speed will be on the Danish section; after all, Fortuna was not originally intended to be used for laying pipes at serious depths.

The new package of the US sanctions will interfere from an organizational point of view, but this will not greatly affect the timing of construction, Alexey Belogoryev is sure. Perhaps Washington will try to come up with new restrictions, but it will be difficult to stop construction by legal methods alone.

The biggest risk comes from Germany's position. If it suddenly changes, then Nord Stream 2 may simply not be put into operation. But such a scenario is unlikely, until now Berlin has supported the project, the expert noted.

He believes that if nothing unexpected happens, then by the end of next year the gas pipeline can be put into operation. Natural gas supplies through it are likely to begin in January 2022.