"Nord Stream 2 confirms the resumption of pipelay works planned for Dec. 11," a project spokesman told

“Пик потребления углеводородов, может, уже даже и прошел. Пандемия структурно повлияла на мировую экономику: уже меньше путешествий, пользования транспортом, командировок, но больше видео конференций, заказов через онлайн торговлю. Это уже могло повлиять на структурный уровень потребления углеводородов в мире”.

US opposition to the project -- on the grounds that it gives Russia too much leverage over European energy security -- continues to intensify.

India was an attractive market for the US for innovation, alternative energy, and investment avenues.

Construction work on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea will resume this week, despite U.S. sanctions designed to end the pipeline that will bring Russian gas to Germany.

The DNV GL spokesman said: "Under these new guidelines, we find DNV GL's verification activities linked to vessels with equipment serving the Nord Stream 2 project to be sanctionable."

Wintershall Dea is one of five European energy companies -- along with France's Engie, Austria 's OMV, Anglo-Dutch Shell and Germany's Uniper -- that have co-financed the project, each committing to invest Eur950 million.

Iran's oil exports are already under intense US sanctions pressure, and recent moves by the Trump administration have been seen as an attempt to harden its policy ahead of a Joe Biden White House.

Gazprom and Germany say Nord Stream 2 is purely a commercial project. Gas demand in Germany is growing as it cuts dependence on nuclear and coal power.

Iran’s oil exports have shrunk from more than 2.5 million bpd since 2018,

UOKiK on Oct. 7 imposed a fine of more than Zloty 29 billion ($7.62 billion, Eur6.48 billion) on Russian gas giant Gazprom for building Nord Stream 2 without its approval, as well as a fine totaling Zloty 234 million on five European companies that helped finance the project.

The almost complete Nord Stream 2 was meant to come online at the end of 2019, but the threat of US sanctions against companies working on laying the pipeline saw main contractor Allseas halt work in December last year.

Iran sanctions relief under a change in US president represents the biggest supply and price impact for global oil markets

The EU considers the extraterritorial application of unilateral restrictive measures unlawful and contrary to international law.

A little over 150 km of Nord Stream 2 remains to be laid in Danish and German waters, but with the political debate becoming ever more frenzied, it remains unclear how and when the pipeline will be completed.