Gazprom to build third, fourth strings of Nord Stream
Oct. 9, 2012
Gazprom has decided to build third and fourth strings of the Nord Stream trans-Baltic natural gas pipelines. The company made the announcement at commissioning of Nord Stream’s second string in Portovaya Bay, the Baltic coast of Russia.
One of the new strings might deliver Russian gas to the UK, Gazprom said. The company plans to sign a memorandum of understanding regarding the new construction by Jan. 31, 2013.
Nord Stream AG welded the final joint of the pipeline’s second string earlier this year (OGJ Online, Aug. 30, 2012).
Nord Stream extends 1,224 km from Portovaya Bay to the German coast near Greifswald. Commercial gas supplies via Nord Stream’s first string started Nov. 8, 2011 (OGJ Online, Nov. 14, 2011). The company completed stringing of the second line on Apr. 18 (OGJ Online, Mar. 29, 2012). Total capacity of the twin lines measures 55 billion cu m/year.
Nord Stream AG partners are Gazprom 51%, Wintershall Holding 15.5%, E.On Ruhrgas 15.5%, Gasunie 9%, and GDF Suez 9%.
Contact Christopher E. Smith at [email protected].
Christopher brings 27 years of experience in a variety of oil and gas industry analysis and reporting roles to his work as Editor-in-Chief, specializing for the last 15 of them in midstream and transportation sectors.