NORD STREAM 2: DENMARK APPROVEMENT

P&GJ — 10/1/2020 - Denmark's energy industry announced its approval for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to operate in Danish waters of the Baltic Sea, clearing one of the last remaining hurdles for the Russian project.

The Danish Energy Agency granted the permit on Thursday almost a year after the application was submitted.

The 760-mile (1230 km) has come under attack in recent months from the U.S. and other Western governments over fears that the project would increase Europe's dependence on Russia.

With nearly 90% of the pipeline completed, work was halted late last year on the final stretch of the project as American lawmakers imposed sanctions on companies working on the pipeline.

The project came under further scrutiny last month, even from Germany, the projects biggest European supporter, after a political opponent to Russian President Vladimir Putin was poisoned on a domestic flight in late August.

The Kremlin-backed project could carry as much as 55 billion cubic meters of Russian natural gas a year into Europe under the Baltic Sea, making landfall in Germany.

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