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Nord Stream resumes gas supply after scheduled adjustment work

Russia will supply one million cubic metres of gas an hour by this pipeline, or about 8.5 billion cubic meters a year
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

BERLIN, April 28 (Itar-Tass) —— The Nord Stream pipeline resumed gas supply on Saturday, April 28, after scheduled adjustment work.

“Nord Stream completed the process of adapting the control system to integrate the two lines into a single automated twin-pipeline gas transport system. Following the two-week process that included adapting and testing the integrated control system for the twin pipelines, the required certifications were received and valves were re-opened on April 28, resuming the gas flow,” Nord Stream AG said.

“Pipe-laying of the second of the twin 1,224-kilometre pipelines has been completed on April 18, and the three sections will be joined underwater off the Finnish coast in mid-May and off the Swedish coast in early June. Pre-commissioning activities of the second pipeline will take place over the summer, and the second line is on schedule to become operational as part of the integrated twin-pipeline system towards the end of the year,” the company said on a press release.

North Stream runs across the Baltic Sea from the Portovaya bay to the German coast (near Greifswald) and link Russia's unified gas transportation system with the European Union's gas network. The total capacity of the pipeline is 55 billion cubic metres of a gas year.

In Russia, a 917-kilometre-long onshore connection built by Gazprom connects Nord Stream to the Russian gas transportation system.

Two onshore extensions from Greifswald to the south and west of Germany with a total length of 850 kilometres will be built by WINGAS and E.ON Ruhrgas.

Based on the multiyear comprehensive analysis of technical, environmental and economic aspects and factors of the European energy supply security, the sea route is an optimal solution for the construction of a new pipeline carrying gas to Europe.

Nord Stream will transport 27.5 billion cubic metres of natural gas from late 2011, and up to 55 billion cubic metres from 2012. This amount of gas corresponds to the energy produced by 55 coal power plants pr 20 new nuclear reactors.

The first gas came by Nord Stream into the European gas transportation system on November 8, 2011. The second stretch is scheduled for October 2012.

Russia will supply one million cubic metres of gas an hour by this pipeline, or about 8.5 billion cubic meters a year.

The Shtokman gas and condensate field will be a resource base for gas deliveries via Nord Stream.