What goes on in Poland on the 13th of August.
The new Nord Stream 2 route is to bypass Denmark’s resistance
The company responsible for the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline has submitted an application and a report on the environmental impact to the Danish Energy Agency (Energistyrelsen), which is to take place in the exclusive economic zone of Denmark to the north-west of the island of Bornholm. This is an alternative route to bypass Danish territorial waters.
The Nord Stream 2 AG information is confirmed by the Danish Energy Agency (Energistyrelsen), which legally deals with the processing of applications for the construction of investments such as a cross-border gas pipeline. – The Energy Agency received a further request from Nord Stream 2 AG on 10 August 2018, it is about allowing the construction of a transit gas pipeline in Danish waters on an alternative route north of Bornholm. The Danish Energy Agency will consider this application – we read in the communication on the website of the Danish Energy Agency.
– Filing the documents does not suspend the application procedure for the construction of a transit gas pipeline in Danish waters on an alternative route – reads the communication Nord Stream 2 AG. The company mentioned the law adopted at the end of November last year by the Danish parliament, which allows the government to reject pipeline projects due to security or foreign policy concerns. – Therefore, Nord Stream 2 AG decided to explore alternative routes outside Denmark’s territorial waters – the company said.
An alternative route of Nord Stream 2
According to the calculations of Nord Stream 2 AG, the new route through Denmark will be 175 km long. It is 36 km more than previously planned. As the company’s representatives say, the change of route will involve additional expenditures, with project partners supporting this solution.
According to the representative of Nord Stream 2 AG Markela Dedopoulos, the construction of the Danish section of the pipeline is to be completed in the second half of 2019. – In other countries, work is carried out as planned. We have received consents from Germany, Sweden, Finland and also Russia, however, recent approvals should be issued by mid-August. At the planned pace of laying – 3 km a day – there should be no significant delays – she said referring to a decision that Denmark has not yet taken.
In turn, the head of the Austrian OMV reiterated the expectation that Copenhagen will give permission for the construction of Nord Stream 2 based on the current route. – The same route was accepted by the Danes in the case of Nord Stream 1. I hope that plan A will work – said Reinhard Seele.
At the beginning of August, the president of Gazprom’s partner on the project, the Austrian OMV informed about the development of a new Nord Stream 2 route along an alternative route to the north, which would bypass Denmark. He also argued that the change will not affect the costs and schedule of the construction of the gas pipeline. It is worth noting that Gazprom’s partner Allseas claims that bypassing Denmark will increase construction costs by five percent (0,5 billion euros). However, according to calculations by the financial director of Nord Stream 2 AG, Paula Corcorana, they could increase by 10 percent. The head of the Austrian company also argued during the conference that the laying of Nord Stream 2 began in Germany, although the company responsible for the construction of the pipeline informed only about the start of preparatory works, which is not the same as laying pipes.