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Gazprom starts building Nord Stream gas pipeline

© POOL / Go to the mediabankDmitry Medvedev at opening ceremony of Nord Stream pipeline construction
Dmitry Medvedev at opening ceremony of Nord Stream pipeline construction - Sputnik International
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Russian energy giant Gazprom on Friday officially started the construction of Nord Stream, a pipeline to carry Russian gas to western Europe under the Baltic Sea

Russian energy giant Gazprom on Friday officially started the construction of Nord Stream, a pipeline to carry Russian gas to western Europe under the Baltic Sea.

The first symbolic weld was made in the presence of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, Nord Stream Shareholders Committee Chairman Gerhard Schroeder, European Union Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger, and other dignitaries.

After the symbolic weld, Medvedev put his signature on the pipeline.

Medvedev said he is sure European demand for gas will grow.

"Despite the intensive search for alternative energy sources, we are convinced that demand for 'blue fuel' in Europe will continue to grow," he said at a ceremony marking the start of the construction.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Nord Stream construction should expedite the implementation of other infrastructural projects.

"I would be happy if Nord Stream encouraged other companies operating in the energy sphere to design, build and finance new infrastructural projects," she said in a live video address.

Gazprom said Tuesday the first section of Nord Stream had been laid on the seabed.

Nord Stream, whose shareholders include Gazprom, and German and Dutch companies, will consist of twin lines, each with a capacity of 27.5 billion cubic meters a year, extending 1,220 kilometers, the longest underwater pipeline in the world.

It will run from the Russian city of Vyborg near the Finnish border to the German port of Greifswald.

The first line is due to be completed in 2011, and the second in October 2012, bringing annual capacity to 55 bcm.

Nord Stream has said this should be enough to supply more than 25 million households in Europe.

VYBORG, April 9 (RIA Novosti) 

 

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