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Oligarch Vladimir Lisin:
third richest Russian in 2021 with assets of $26.2 billion
Photo: SERGEI KARPUKHIN/ REUTERS
The Fehmarnbelt Tunnel, which will connect the German island of Fehmarn with the Danish island of Lolland, is to be almost 18 kilometers long.
As things currently stand, it would be both the longest and deepest combined rail and road tunnel in the world when it is scheduled to be completed in 2029.
The start of construction of the project, which is not only controversial among nature conservationists, was delayed several times before it started on January 1, 2021 in Denmark and at the end of the year also on the German side.
Now the project is making headlines again in Denmark.
Because the completion of the gigantic project is currently unthinkable without the company NLMK Dansteel, which belongs to the Russian oligarch
Vladimir Lisin
(65).
As a subcontractor, he supplies tons of steel for the construction site of the Fehmarnbelt tunnel, including for a multi-function barge, reports the leading Danish business medium "Finans".
With this special device, finished tunnel elements can be lowered into the Baltic Sea in the twelve meter deep and up to 140 meter wide trench on which the four tunnel tubes will later rest.
In a Facebook post, NLMK Dansteel described its stake in the €7 billion project as "significant".
Also known as a scientist and author of metallurgy textbooks, Lisin was once closely associated with Russian President
Vladimir Putin
(69).
Today he is one of the 100 richest people in the world and ranks third in Russia in terms of wealth.
After the outbreak of war, the CEO of the Russian steel producer Novolipetsk Steel distanced himself from Putin and the attack on Ukraine, but he is still viewed critically by many.
Because although he is not personally on the US or EU sanctions lists, his influence in Russia is enormous.
It is not known how much money he ultimately receives for the delivery of the huge steel plates, as this is settled with a Polish shipyard via a subcontractor.
However, since the sum is being paid from a state project - the Danish joint-stock company A/S Femern, which builds the tunnel, was founded especially for this purpose - many of those involved now fear protests.
A Danish expert on trade policy was quoted by "Finans" as saying that there could be a shitstorm because one does not want to be associated with Putin and Russia.
He also says that there would certainly be political support should A/S Femern now look around for alternatives.
Important infrastructure project for Northern Europe
"We require our contractors to comply with the applicable regulations at all times," says a statement from A/S Femern's head of communications.
"This applies to sanctions that have already been imposed or could come as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine."
Apparently there are currently no plans to expand the existing sanctions lists of Russian oligarchs.
Should it come to that, however, or should public pressure become too great, it would put a severe damper on the transport infrastructure project that is important for Northern Europe and lead to considerable further delays.
Vladimir Lisin only recently had to experience how quickly something like this can happen.
Although he has been President of the "International Shooting Sport Federation" (ISSF) for a long time, he was again invited to the European Championships in this discipline, which will take place in Hamar, Norway at the end of March.
