If you’re based in Europe, like me, and you like the warm, like me,
then you might have noticed your heating bills going up by quite a bit lately.
The continent is in the grip of an energy crisis caused by rising demand,
gas supplies that are lower than normal and a shortage of renewable power.
But there’s hope. The completion of this massive construction project could,
in theory, help solve the issue straight away.
But this is no ordinary energy scheme. It’s not a power plant or hydroelectric dam;
instead, it’s something that at first glance seems a little more… basic.
And yet it’s impacting millions of people, creating tensions between
some of the world’s most powerful countries and continuing to make global headlines.
This is how a simple pipeline became one of Europe’s most controversial construction projects.
Now, we know what you’re thinking - why on Earth is The B1M doing a video on a pipe?
Well, there’s actually quite a bit more to it than that.
Nord Stream 2 is a brand new pipeline that will bring an additional source
of natural gas from Russia to mainland Europe via Germany.
Having another supply of this fuel at a time when it’s becoming ever-more scarce sounds ideal,
but there’s a problem.
It’s all built and fully plumbed in, but they’ve had a bit of trouble turning the
tap on, so to speak. Before we get into the details, let’s rewind a bit.
Running parallel to the original Nord Stream line built almost a decade ago,
the $11BN Nord Stream 2 stretches over 1,200-kilometres and crosses the economic
zones of five countries - making it one of the longest offshore pipelines in the world.
It’s formed from around 100,000 pieces in total - each weighing 24 tonnes. Oh,
and there are two of them - it’s a twin line.
Once operational it’ll provide 55BN cubic metres of gas per
year - enough for 26 million homes - with the
capacity to handle around a third of the EU’s future import needs.
Construction started in 2018 and by late 2019 it was almost done.
Using the world’s largest construction ship, Pioneering Spirit,
the crew was laying up to three kilometres of piping every day.
Sections were welded and tested on board before being added to
the main pipe and then lowered to the seabed.
It was also built in stages, which meant several connections had to be made at sea.
To avoid water flooding into the pipe, some sections had to be lifted back out
and connected on the surface in a process that’s imaginatively called an ‘above water tie-in’.
Some of the most impressive work, though, was done back on land - particularly at the German end.
Here, two 700-metre microtunnels were constructed,
connecting the receiving station to the pipeline as it nears the shore.
This involved digging an entry shaft at the station and dropping a tunnel boring
machine inside. That then burrowed towards the water, laying pieces of pipe as it went.
Once under the seabed the machine was dug out and
removed before the land and sea pipe sections were connected.
Over on the Russian side, Nord Stream 2 only had to go a few kilometres inland to connect
to an existing pipeline that brings in gas from the Arctic Yamal fields.
This makes Nord Stream 2 considerably shorter overall than the current pipeline that goes
from Russia to Germany through Ukraine and the so-called Central Corridor.
It’s the new route though, where all the controversy is.
It might be a shortcut, but it also bypasses Ukraine.
That's a country that has been in conflict with Russia since 2014.
It's a country that relies a lot on current pipelines for income and it's a country that's
set to lose out under the new scheme if Nord Stream 2 becomes a priority line.
Since 2016, deliveries via Ukraine have decreased substantially,
while gas coming through Nord Stream 1 has increased.
There are also fears this will give Russia too much power and even control over the
European energy system as it would see its gas exports to Germany and the wider grid double.
Some critics have warned that it could be used as a “geopolitical weapon,”
a suggestion that Russia has denied.
Already, over a third of the continent’s gas comes from Russia, which is financing
half of the scheme through state-owned Gazprom, with five European energy firms covering the rest.
Concerns about Europe becoming too dependent on Russian gas
is what caused the two-year delay between late 2019 and 2021, with the US threatening sanctions.
Other opponents of Nord Stream 2 have included Poland and other eastern EU countries.
However, an agreement was made between the US and Germany in July 2021 that
allowed construction to finish, but in November the certification process
required for the pipeline to open was halted by the German regulator.
Due to this unexpected setback, gas prices went up even further.
A new German arm of the operating company now has to be set up before final approvals are given.
All the while, those worries about the scale of Russia’s influence haven’t gone away.
For whatever might happen next, and despite the understandable opposition,
Nord Stream 2 is still an impressive feat of engineering that really
underlines the impact construction can have on so many people’s lives.
Of course, many countries are currently investing in renewable
energy and making big commitments to go green over the coming decades,
all of which will reduce the influence of Russian fossil fuels.
But until we can switch off the gas for good,
and with demand still increasing, we’re kinda stuck with it for now.
It might not be the answer everyone wants but others say it’s what Europe
needs for the time being - that is once it's flame is actually lit.
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