Nord Stream 1 gas link, and growing concerns

Context

There are growing concerns in European countries that Russia would shut down its gas supplies in retaliation against the current sanctions against Moscow.

What is Nord Stream 1?

• It is a system of offshore natural gas pipelines running under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany.
• The Nord Stream Pipeline system is a major feat of engineering, which involves complex logistics, along with suppliers and contractors from all over the world.
• Nord Stream 1 is a 1,224 km underwater gas pipeline that runs from Vyborg in northwest Russia to Lubmin in northeastern Germany via the Baltic Sea.
• It transports 55 billion cubic metres of gas a year, of which most goes directly to Germany, while the rest travels west and southwards through onshore links to other countries and into storage caverns.
• Germany is Russia’s biggest European gas consumer, and most of it comes through the Nord Stream Pipeline.
• Its share of Russian gas supplies was 55% in 2021, and currently lies at 35%.
• Majority owned by the Russian energy giant Gazprom, the pipeline is the primary route through which its gas enters Germany.
• Two further pipelines under construction running from Ust-Luga to Lubmin are termed Nord Stream 2.
  
  

What are Europe’s alternative sources of energy?

• As an alternative source for energy, European countries have increasingly turned towards the US, from whom they purchase liquified natural gas (LNG) that comes via ships.
• Since ship-delivered gas ends up being far more expensive, there are also attempts to get non-Russian pipeline gas from Norway and Azerbaijan.
• While EU countries were earlier seeking to phase out fossil fuels and emphasize renewable forms of energy, many are now returning to coal to deal with the energy crisis.