The German government moved to sell the pipes from the Nord Stream 2 project, a decision announced by a representative of the Ministry of Economy. DEA News.
Documents reveal that an agreement was reached with a company involved in building a gas pipeline linking the island of Rügen with the Lubmin area on the Baltic coast. The spokesperson noted that the pipes had been sold but did not identify the buyer.
German media later reported that roughly 3,000 pipes remained in storage after Nord Stream 2’s completion. Die Welt, in March 2023, discussed Berlin’s plans to acquire these pipes from Nord Stream 2 AG.
Reports indicated that Berlin would need to coordinate its actions with Washington before finalizing a sale. The discussions reportedly touched on methods to avoid the sanctions placed on Moscow. Ultimately, U.S. officials approved the project’s proceeding and insisted that the proceeds from the pipe sale should not flow to Russia.
Subsequently, Germany purchased the equipment for 70 million euros, with the intention of using the pipes in the Ostsee Anbindungsleitung project, or OAL, which would run from Rügen to Lubmin. In August, the gas transmission network operator GASCADE received authorization to lay the pipeline.
Earlier warnings in Germany suggested that risks to gas supply would persist into the upcoming winter months, underscoring ongoing concerns about energy security and the reliability of supply chains in the region.