Italians with Gazprom again

Saipem is to take part in the construction of Nord Stream 2. The Italian company has announced that it has been awarded a contract to build the last section of the pipeline connecting Russia and Germany under the Baltic Sea. This means that Saipem will go back to cooperation with Russia after a period of strained relationship between the two caused by Russians’ withdrawal from the South Stream project. Interestingly, litigation over the South Stream between Saipem and Russians is pending before international arbitration.

According to an announcement of Saipem, the company will build the last section of Nord Stream 2, to Greifswald in Germany. As a matter of fact, Saipem also played the leading role in the construction of two first strings of the pipeline (Nord Stream). The experience of Saipem and its capabilities to build gas pipelines in harsh conditions (off-shore construction works) make the company a very valuable partner for the Russians. It cannot be excluded that the decision of Nord Stream 2 AG consortium will contribute to an amicable settlement of the conflict over the South Stream and the parties will go back to mutually beneficial cooperation.

On 14 March 2014, Saipem was awarded a contract by South Stream Transport B.V. (Gazprom 50%, Eni 25%, EdF 15%, Wintershall 15%) to lay the first section of the pipeline, from Russia to Bulgaria, under the Black Sea. The value of the contract was 2 billion euros. Finally, however, the South Stream project collapsed – largely due to the resistance of the European Union. The Italian operator of the project, South Stream Transport B.V., unilaterally revoked the contract with Saipem at the time. In December 2015, the Italians filed a lawsuit against South Stream Transport B. V., worth 679 million euros. Gazprom responded with a lawsuit against Saipem, for 730 million euros. The hearing in this case has been planned for May 2018.

Before the conflict, Saipem was a partner of Gazprom in many strategic projects. In1999-2003, it participated in the construction of Blue Stream, a major trans-Black Sea gas pipeline between Russia and Turkey. In 2003-2009, it took part in building the gas pipeline that connected gas fields in Sakhalin with the LNG terminal. The Italians also designed in detail and laid the major Nord Stream gas pipeline (2011-2012).

Saipem also led the consortium implementing the LNG terminal project in Świnoujście – the first project significantly diversifying gas supplies to Poland. However, the construction of this terminal, strategic for Poland, was substantially delayed, which weakened the position of Poland against its Russian supplier. A report of Polish Supreme Audit Office (NIK) on construction of the LNG terminal revealed that Saipem acted unfairly towards Polish contracting entities, in order to negotiate better financial terms for itself.

The major shareholder of Saipem is Eni, an Italian oil and gas company which for years has been engaged in projects commissioned by Russian customers. The cooperation between Eni and Moscow goes back to 1969, when the first contract was signed for gas supplies from the USRR to Italy. In 2013, Eni was one of the biggest western buyers of gas from Gazprom. It was involved in the South Stream project. It also holds stake in some extraction companies operating in Russia.

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