Equinor: EU sanctions prevented transfer of Nord Stream survey equipment
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Norwegian state-owned oil and gas company Equinor said European Union (EU) sanctions imposed on Russia prevented it from providing services and equipment to inspect the damaged Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines in the fall of 2022. This is stated in a statement by Equinor, which circulated Reuters.
“The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that the pipeline work will violate Norwegian sanctions rules – and therefore EU sanctions rules,” Equinor said in a statement. Norway is not a member of the EU, but has been part of the European Economic Area since 1994. After the start of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, the Norwegian government supported the anti-Russian sanctions of the European Union.
Norway has a Pipeline Repair and Subsea Intervention (PRSI) pool that provides repair equipment for its member companies, the agency clarifies. Equinor’s pool includes 72 companies, including Nord Stream operators.
In October 2022, the system received a request from gas pipeline operator Nord Stream AG to inspect the damage. On October 4, the operator announced that it was unable to inspect Nord Stream 1 because “the owner of the properly chartered research vessel is still awaiting approval from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
“In connection with the incident and as a full member of the PRSI pool, Nord Stream 2 AG has requested support to carry out inspections of damage sites in the economic zones of Sweden and Denmark in the Baltic Sea. The request was denied,” the statement said.
In September 2022, pressure dropped sharply on the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines and gas leaks occurred. Three of the four pipes of gas pipelines were damaged, gas pumping through them was stopped. Russia and Western countries called it sabotage. EU countries and Russia are conducting their own investigations into what happened. At the Russian Foreign Ministry declaredthat Sweden does not allow the Russian side to the international investigation.
About the consequences of the explosions – in the material “Kommersant” “Nord Streams will undergo decompression.”
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