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Russia Secretly Prepares for Potential Nord Stream 2 Revival, Reports Indicate
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![Vlad Litnarovych]( "Vlad Litnarovych")
Russia appears to be making quiet preparations to restore the Nord Stream gas pipelines, despite skepticism from experts, according to an investigation by Russian media outlet Important Stories on March 14.
Several indirect signs point to renewed activity by a company previously involved in processing pipes for the pipelines—one linked to Putin ally Arkady Rotenberg and former Gazprom executives suspected of siphoning off 150 billion rubles in assets.
The Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, the world’s longest offshore gas pipelines, were designed to transport up to 110 billion cubic meters of Russian gas to Europe annually. For comparison, in 2024, Russia delivered only about 31 billion cubic meters to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline.
Nord Stream 1 became operational in 2011 and 2012, while construction of Nord Stream 2 was completed in 2021 but never launched due to international sanctions.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, three of the four pipelines were sabotaged and destroyed.
In September 2024, European Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson stated that the EU had reduced its reliance on Russian gas from 45% in 2021 to 15% in 2023, with plans to phase it out entirely.
However, some Central European nations—Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia—remain heavily dependent on Russian gas.
While the EU initially aimed to cut off Russian energy supplies by 2027, concerns over rising gas prices and European industry competitiveness have delayed a complete phaseout. Until recently, the idea of reviving Nord Stream had been off the table.
Signs of a potential Nord Stream revival
The situation shifted after Donald Trump won the US presidential election.
In early March 2025, Trump’s special envoy, Richard Grenell, held secret negotiations in Switzerland about restarting Nord Stream 2. The discussions allegedly explored the possibility of the US acting as an intermediary for Russian gas deliveries to Germany.
Meanwhile, Important Stories uncovered additional indicators that Russia may be laying the groundwork for Nord Stream’s return:
Increased activity by pipeline contractors
A Russian company, Pipeline Coatings and Technologies, which previously worked on Nord Stream 2 by applying a concrete coating to pipes for seabed installation, appears to be preparing for a large-scale order.
A source close to Gazprom’s leadership revealed that the company is actively purchasing patents related to pipeline technology.
“The concrete coating technology was originally Western, but many technical nuances were patented in Russia. Previously, these patents were registered to individual specialists. Now, the company is buying them up to be ready for a potential order and avoid paying third parties if the project moves forward,” the source explained.
Unusual activity in Russia’s Pipe Industry Association
The Association of Pipe Manufacturers, which collaborates with Gazprom to ensure domestic pipeline production, has recently been discussing subsea pipeline requirements.
A source close to Gazprom’s leadership noted that “given Gazprom’s current situation, there is no need for such discussions—there are no major projects requiring these specialized pipes.”
Oil and gas market expert Mikhail Krutikhin confirmed, “Gazprom currently has no large-scale projects involving seabed pipelines.”
Pipeline preservation efforts
In January 2025, Nord Stream 2 AG, the pipeline’s operator, unexpectedly received approval from Denmark’s Energy Agency to carry out preservation work on the damaged pipeline—two years after the sabotage.
The process involves removing seawater from the damaged sections and sealing them, a step that could facilitate future restoration. Danish authorities framed the decision as an environmental measure, but some experts find the timing suspicious.
“For over two years, the destroyed section of Nord Stream didn’t prompt any action from Danish authorities. Now, suddenly, Nord Stream 2’s operator—facing bankruptcy—manages to secure permission for preservation work,” a source told Important Stories.
Earlier, reports emerged that as discussions over a ceasefire continue, some European officials were weighing the possibility of resuming Russian gas imports to stabilize the industry and lower energy costs—a move that could once again ease economic pressure on Moscow.
According to The Economist, some policymakers argue that restoring gas flows could encourage Vladimir Putin to negotiate peace. Goldman Sachs estimates that a resolution to the war could boost European GDP by 0.5%, largely due to cheaper gas.
