Gazprom and partners are seeking ways to proceed with the completion of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, from Russia to Germany, circumventing U.S. sanctions, Kallanish Energy reports.

Project developer Nord Stream 2 AG, a company owned by Gazprom and backed by five European energy groups, has asked Denmark for permission to use pipe-laying ships with anchors to finish construction in Danish waters.

The update to a permit issued in Oct. 2019 by Danish authorities would enable Nord Stream 2 AG resume pipe laying activities after Swiss firm Allseas halted works due to U.S. sanctions. The pipeline is 93% complete and left with roughly 120km to be built in Denmark’s territory.

On Tuesday, Denmark’s energy agency (DEA) said it would take up to four weeks to have a response on the request.

The pipeline will carry 55 billion cubic meters per year of Russian gas to Europe via Germany. It was planned to start operations in late 2019, but a start-up is now expected by late 2020-early 2021.

The potential use of pipelay vessels, some of which owned by Gazprom, is expected to finish the job, although at a slower pace than the previous vessels with dynamic positioning capabilities. Nord Stream 2 AG said the use of anchored ships for positioning has been successfully used during the installation of the Nord Stream pipeline in Danish waters, and for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in German waters.

This post appeared first on Kallanish Energy News.