Operator of Nord Stream 2 files for bankruptcy and fires all employees

[herding cats]

Source: Axios

The Swiss-based company behind the Nord Stream 2 pipeline has filed for bankruptcy and fired all 106 of its employees, a local official confirmed to Swiss radio broadcaster SRF.

Why it matters: Long viewed as a Kremlin influence project that would increase Europe's energy dependence on Russia, Nord Stream 2 was one of the first targets of the flurry of Western sanctions triggered by Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the certification of the $11 billion natural gas pipeline would be suspended last Tuesday, a day after Putin ordered Russian troops into eastern Ukraine for a "peacekeeping" mission. The pipeline is fully constructed, but gas had not yet started flowing.
The U.S. followed up by rescinding sanctions waivers on Nord Stream 2 AG and its corporate officers, dealing what was likely the death blow to a project that had caused major headaches for President Biden and the trans-Atlantic alliance.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/nord-stream-2-bankruptcy-05fe10e2-a312-4f44-ab59-0b6e2629e222.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_content=energy-environment-nordstream2

[yaesu]

1. that was quick. nt

[samsingh]

2. hopefully many were russian

[Geechie]

3. Whatever country you are from

It’s not good to get laid off. And something like 90% of the Russian people are against Putin’s dirty war.

But, yeah.

[MerryHolidays]

5. "And something like 90% of the Russian people are against Putin's dirty war."

Do you have a citation for that? That's not what I've been hearing. There are many against it in Russia, but I didn't think it was anywhere near 90%.

I think for folks who get their news via the internet (e.g., younger Russians), that group is very much against the war. But for those that watch state-run TV, I think the numbers are very much in favor of Russia's lawless invasion.

[Geechie]

6. I was looking it up

Having seen it with a citation here on DU a few days ago, I thought it would be here but it has disappeared. Russian state media is of course hiding any bad numbers, but I should have found the citation first before posting that. The first part still stands

[MerryHolidays]

7. It's great if this is true.

Unlike China, Russia hasn't really censored the internet to the same degree. There is a lot more leakage of truth in Russia than in places like China or North Korea.

I would be certain the NATO allies are using every channel they can to get out the truth.

[SouthernDem4ever]

11. The russian govt is taking it's Q from Fux nooze

and is propagandizing like hell by saying they are defending themselves from invading nazis, and ukraine attacked them, etc. All total bullshit but you'll find plenty of ruskies sitting in their behind believing it, just like you have idiots watching Fux Nooze here.

[MerryHolidays]

12. Even the US MSM was bungling some of this

A Russian-speaking friend noticed that one of the major MSMs (not sure which one) was reporting Russians saying "no war", as if the Russians they were broadcasting were even denying that there's a war going on. Instead, they were actually saying "No TO war", which is obviously a very different meaning!

[Igel]

16. I'd have to hear.

The two don't sound the same.

Even in slacker Russian, a la Mumi Troll'.

[erronis]

15. And these binary "for or against" are ridiculous. It depends (to give a promo for trump's diapers)

Even if there was a true large-scale random sampling (which there couldn't have been), the framing of the questions would make a world of difference in the responses.

Let's try not to repeat simplistic numbers/arguments without some level of verifiable information behind them.

[NCjack]

4. Pres. Biden wins another round against PUTIN. Russia looses Germany as a customer, and

the pipeline will probably not be finished.

That's what happens when you get used to playing poker with TDFG and have to play against a tough guy (Pres. Biden).

[Lancero]

8. Germany is still their customer, with billions of dollars sold via NS1.

NS2 was finished back in September, but never activated. Russia loses nothing with this.

Last year alone, Germany provided 19.4 Billion Euros of funding to Russia - Billions of dollars, that now serves to fuel their military ambitions in Ukraine. ( https://www.destatis.de/EN/Press/2022/02/PE22_N010_51.html )

Germany has been warned, for years, about this. You'd think that Crimea would have been their wake up call - But no. Even in spite of that, they have increased imports. Year after year. And now, here we are. Russian gas, in exchange for Ukrainian blood. It's a deal that Germany joyously makes.

[FakeNoose]

9. Maybe Germany will buy it? They've got a lot invested in this pipeline

Their only problem was going into a partnership with Russia. (poor choice!)

Germany's intentions were good, they wanted to reduce their carbon footing and take their coal generators offline. They're in the process of shutting down their nuclear power plants. However they're still a long way from self-sufficiency in solar and wind power generation. Germany is kind of stuck right now. Where will they get the natural gas they desperately need?

[Lancero]

10. Natural gas isn't green. And they've had, from Crimea, 7-8 years now to find alternative sources.

Germany cannot claim ignorance in this. They've known, for years. Long before Crimea, in fact - The Russo-Georgian War was another warning sign - But deep down, they never gave a damn.

Ukrainian blood, for Russian gas. It's a deal Germany joyously makes.

[Igel]

17. So they buy it.

It's good for one thing and only one thing: Getting NG from Russia to Germany.

[WHITT]

13. Swami Sees MASSIVE Lawsuit Coming

Will cost Germany and likely U.S. hundreds of billions.

[hueymahl]

14. Germany screwed up when the started decommissioning their nuclear plants

Despite all the fud about their safety, environmental friendliness etc, Germany would not be as reliant on fossil fuels with them, and Russia would not be as enriched.