The 2500 kilometer pipeline is set to run from Russia through the Baltic Sea to the coastal municipality Luqman in northeastern Germany at the German end.

The infrastructure facility, with its massive pipes and heavy duty safety valves, has been ready to go since the summer of 2020.

But Luke means Mayor Axel Focht is worried the pipeline might never be operational.

I'm firmly convinced that we, that is Germany and Europe as a whole still need the natural gas from Nord Stream two.

We've begun shutting down nuclear power plants and are facing out lignite coal.

But until the time when we're able to power everything by renewable energy, Germany and Europe's energy needs have to be met.

So I see natural gas from pipelines like Nord Stream as indispensable.

Some 150 kilometers of pipeline have yet to be laid on the Baltic Sea bed, but controversy surrounding the project a stalling progress.

It concerns the supplier Russia and may prove to be north stream twos undoing.

Even before opposition activist Alexey Navalny's arrest, many were calling for a halt to the construction as a means to exert political pressure on Russia's President Putin and look mean there's a different view.

S eyes it right to tie a case like Navalny, for example, toe a project like Nord Stream two.

Or should it be considered in isolation, especially when the facts, at least as I understand them, aren't so clear as to warrant sanctions against the Russian government?

E.

Find Navalny's case is reported by media very much from Navalny's point of view on the arguments of Russia's government.

Get brushed aside or disregarded.

E look mean and Russia have a long history.

In the 19 sixties, the Soviets built the biggest nuclear power plant here in what was then East Germany.

Many of its employees were Russian, and they lived here.

There.

Mark remains in the community to this day.

Look me in.

Speeches are largely deserted these days.

Only a few locals air outside, and they share much the same view.

Navalny is not important, but North Stream is for all of Europe.

Can we afford to throw millions or even billions to the wind?

They ought to find some kind of compromise.

I think the pipeline has to be completed, Onley one man we spoke to was more critical.

They were on Lee, a dependable partner, for as long as it was good for them.

E wouldn't do this project.

For political reasons.

The Baltic Sea gas pipelines have become a bone of global contention, pitting Russia against the United States.

Both have natural gas to sell to Europe and want the strategic edge.

The US has threatened sanctions against Germany should Europeans opt to use only the cheaper Russian natural gas.

Jens Faisal, from the local trade association, sees natural gas imports as a purely economic issue.

He says politics should stay out of it, got a gas.

Suppliers make their bids on whoever offers the best price and the best service will win.

The tender or contract on the deal is made.

A customer decides, not sanctions.

The people of look don't want their home to become a stage for world politics, but tend to side with what is familiar.

There's no denying that we don't want to give up our close ties to Russia Way have a past with Russia and that past wasn't all that bad.

Down at the beach, Locals air also happy to receive other Russian imports Whiskey or vodka?

I'm Mr Vodka, but whiskey is not bad.

Actually, I'd rather choose from for our side.

It's vodka.

No question.

Whatever the spirit of choice, many here would toast the day when natural gas flows from Russia to look mean.