NOVO-OGAREVO, October 3 (Itar-Tass) —— The first line of the Nord Stream gas pipeline will go operational on November 8, 2011, Gazprom’s CEO Alexei Miller told Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Monday.
“Construction of the first line is over, now we continue starting-up and adjustment works and fill the pipe with gas,” he said. “Today I am ready to quote the exact date the gas pipeline will go operational – it is November 8, 2011, as we used to say in the old times – by the November holidays.”
The gas pipeline’s second line of 700 kilometres long is ready now, which is about 60 percent, he said.
“At the same time, while putting the first line operational, we start the second, very important and major stage, of ecology monitoring,” Miller said. “As of now, we have agreed on financing of the permanent ecology monitoring in the amount of 40 million euros.”
Putin wanted to learn progress in another gas transporting project, which Gazprom is implementing jointly with European counterparts.
“As for the South Stream, we have finalised the general feasibility study of the project,” Miller reported. “It proves that the project is economically effective and may be implemented from the technical point of view.”
“We have started the next stage – the project’s specifications,” he continued. “We follow the schedule and are ready to confirm that by December of 2015 the project will be finalised and the first commercial gas will be supplied to consumers via the South Stream.”