The State Duma called the timing of the repair of “Nord Streams”

MOSCOW, 29 Sep — PRIME. The repair of Nord Stream can be carried out in two ways, but since it is technically difficult, the terms of work may be delayed by at least six months or a year, Pavel Zavalny, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Energy, President of the Russian Gas Society, expressed this opinion to journalists.

“In my opinion, as a specialist, repairs are possible in two ways. One way is to make a caisson that will be guided over the pipe. The work will be carried out in the caisson: replacing the pipe or repairing it. Depths allow this to be done. This, of course, requires a complex engineering underwater facility. Accordingly, the timeframe – design, manufacture, work – all this is not even months, it can take more time,” Zavalny said on the sidelines of the Sakhalin Oil and Gas forum.

“The second option is lifting. Cranes with a high lifting capacity of 3,000 tons are needed to lift the gas pipeline to the surface and make repairs on the surface in some form. This will also take time, technical equipment, cranes, ships, and so on. But on in my opinion, there is a technical possibility. It may take a long time … it’s six months or a year, at least, “he continued.

According to Zavalny, there is no operational repair option. But an easier and faster way is to raise gas pipelines to the surface. This requires ship equipment, but there is a risk that sanctions will not allow using this option.

On Monday, incidents occurred simultaneously on two Russian export gas pipelines to Europe. According to information from the authorities of Denmark and Sweden, two gas leaks were discovered at Nord Stream and one at Nord Stream 2 near the island of Bornholm. Germany, Denmark and Sweden do not rule out targeted sabotage.

The Russian side officially requested information from Denmark about the emergency at Nord Stream as soon as the incident became known. The Danish authorities notified the Russian Federation about the explosions at the site of the gas leak. The operator of Nord Stream, Nord Stream AG, reported that the state of emergency on gas pipelines was unprecedented, and it was impossible to estimate the timing of repairs.

The work of Nord Stream has been suspended since the end of August due to problems with the repair of Siemens turbines caused by Western sanctions. However, the pipeline remained filled with gas. Nord Stream 2, completed in 2021 but never put into operation, has also already been filled with gas.