Nord Stream, completed in 2012, is a 1,200 kilometre offshore twin pipeline system running through the Baltic Sea, from Portovaya Bay near Vyborg (Russia) and Lubmin near Greifswald (Germany). It has an annual capacity of 55 billion cubic metres of natural gas, and directly connects Russia’s gas fields with Germany’s mainland and Europe’s gas infrastructure. Russian energy giant Gazprom holds a majority stake (51 percent) in Nord Stream AG, and is responsible for the pipeline’s operation. German subsidiaries of E.ON and BASF each hold 15.5 percent. In 2015, about one-third of the European Union’s overall gas demand was supplied by Russia via the Nord Stream pipeline.

The natural gas pipeline Nord Stream 2, currently under construction under the Baltic Sea, has been the subject of heated debate for years. The project, scheduled for completion in late 2019, would allow additional Russian gas to flow directly to Germany. Proponents argue the pipeline is a commercial investment that is key to Europe's supply security, while opponents criticise Nord Stream 2 on environmental, geopolitical, and security grounds.

• Further reading: CLEW Factsheet Gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 links Germany to Russia, but splits Europe
• CLEW reserach tour: The future of gas in a decarbonised energy system
• Date of publication: June 2017