Nord Stream significantly contributes to the long-term security of gas supply to Europe. Natural gas will help to further replace oil and coal with ongoing, positive effects for the climate. Nord Stream carried out comprehensive environmental studies along the pipeline route. The data gathered is a significant contribution by Nord Stream to research and preservation of the Baltic Sea and will be made available to the Baltic Sea countries. The Nord Stream project is also a benchmark project for international cooperation at many different levels -  environmental authorities, NGOs, scientists and experts from countries surrounding the Baltic Sea are working together to analyse and discuss results of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), as well as working out common practices for the assessment of international infrastructure projects.

Given a project budget of 7.4 billion euros and associated investments, Nord Steam is generating business and safeguarding or creating jobs in eleven European countries. Altogether, Nord Stream has signed major contracts for a current total value of over four billion euros. The project is also on the agenda of EU-Russia relations and provides a special opportunity to enhance cooperation.

Nord Stream’s scenario refers to estimates for natural gas demand published by the International Energy Agency in its World Energy Outlook 2009. The report underlines the necessity of additional import capacities provided by Nord Stream: Gas imports by the European Union, 312 billion cubic metres (bcm) in 2007, are projected to grow by more than 200 bcm to 516 bcm per year in 2030. Nord Stream will meet about 25 percent of that additional requirement. Besides, Nord Stream is one of the most advanced infrastructure projects to help close the projected import gap. Nord Stream shareholders have taken the final investment decision to implement the pipeline project.

Nord Stream will contribute to supply Europe with sufficient amounts of natural gas. The IEA World Energy Outlook 2009 assumes that European gas demand will grow while EU production will fall. Import requirements are expected to increase by 64 percent or 200 bcm between 2007 and 2030 according to the IEA. This means that Nord Stream, at a capacity of 55 bcm, will only contribute part of additional import requirement. When taking EU gas production into account, Russian gas makes up just over a quarter of total gas consumption. In 2007, Russian gas deliveries to the EU made up 57 percent of total exports. Given the relatively high European gas price, gas exports to Europe constitute a significant contribution to the Russian economy. In fact, Russian gas exports to Europe are expected to hover around 70 percent in 2020. Thus EU-Russian energy relations are characterised by a strong interdependency. Mutual, reliable and stable cooperation lies in the interest of both partners.

Russia has been a reliable partner for many decades, delivering energy to Europe. Russia never stopped delivering gas to Europe during the Cold War. A part of the gas delivered through the Nord Stream Pipeline has already been sold and will be delivered.

Nord Stream will not be supplied with gas from one specific field, but rather from the entire Russian gas system. The Yuzhno Russkoye field will certainly be a key source, especially in the beginning phases. This field has gas reserves of over 1 trillion cubic metres and can supply 25 billion cubic metres per year. The Yamal Peninsula, Shtokman and Ob-Taz Bay fields will also be important supply sources.