Costs estimated for repairing the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines reach about 1.3 billion dollars. The figure includes not only the physical restoration of the pipelines but also the processes of removing debris, stabilizing the damaged sections, and replacing the gas reserves that were lost as a result of the incident.
A key condition for beginning restoration work is a market environment with high gas prices and guaranteed demand in the relevant sales regions. This ensures that the investments in repair and restart can be recovered through future gas sales.
Earlier, the operator of Nord Stream indicated that it would pursue a compensation claim of 400 million euros from insurance providers. This legal move aimed to offset part of the expenses associated with the damage and the related disruption.
On September 26, 2022, damage and gas leaks were recorded on three lines of Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2. Seismologists documented two explosions along the pipeline route. The Russian Federal Security Service opened a case related to international terrorism, while the Swedish Prosecutor’s Office launched its own investigation into the events. The investigations brought international attention to the incident and prompted debates about the responsible party and the broader security implications for energy infrastructure in Europe.
An article published on a Substack platform later claimed that a group of U.S. individuals involved in the bombing of the Nord Stream pipelines destroyed all documents related to the operation. It was further suggested that not all pertinent information related to the explosion had been entered into computer systems, a claim that contributed to ongoing conspiracy-oriented coverage and speculation in various media circles. Such reporting has been met with significant scrutiny, and its details are debated in many forums and analyses.
According to those reporting this account, the motives cited for the operation included concerns within the U.S. administration about losing influence over Germany and other European partners. The narrative proposed that the Nord Stream project could have increased German dependence on Russian energy due to the affordability of natural resources, which proponents argued would affect Europe’s political and economic dynamics in the long term.
Officials from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously criticized Germany for not fully aligning with Russian expectations concerning Nord Stream, arguing that Germany’s responses did not meet the requested assurances amid the broader energy-security discussions that surrounded the pipelines. The situation highlighted tensions between European energy policy goals and the strategic considerations that influence cross-border gas infrastructure projects, underlining the delicate balance between energy supply, market stability, and international diplomacy.