Ru: "Repair of damaged gas pipeline to take several months or more"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwak Min-jae] It has been revealed that repairing the underwater gas pipelines connecting Russia and Germany, 'Nord Stream-1' and 'Nord Stream-2,' which were damaged by explosions, could take at least several months.

On the 29th (local time), according to the Russian state news agency TASS, Pavel Zavalny, chairman of the Russian State Duma Energy Committee, explained the measures to address the explosion damage and gas leakage incidents of the two pipelines and made this statement.

Chairman Zavalny stated that there are two possible methods for repairing the damaged pipelines: underwater repair work and lifting the pipelines out of the water for offshore repair work.

Zavalny predicted, "It will take several months or more for the design, manufacturing, and repair work of the caisson." He also said, "To carry out repair work offshore after lifting the pipelines, a crane with a lifting capacity of about 3,000 tons is required. Since the possibility of lifting was considered during the pipeline installation, it is technically feasible, but equipment such as cranes and ships are necessary, and it will take at least six months or more."

Earlier, on the 26th, a gas leak was detected in the Nord Stream-2 pipeline laid on the seabed near Bornholm Island, Denmark. The next day, another gas leak occurred in the nearby underwater pipeline Nord Stream-1.

It was identified that a massive energy release, presumed to be an explosion, occurred in the area just before the gas leaks. Experts suspect that a specific force deliberately detonated the pipelines using explosive devices.