Importance

Infrastructure for secure gas supplies in Europe

European gas consumption is constantly rising, but domestic production is declining. Nord Stream will meet nearly a quarter of Europe’s additional gas import needs, so that the long-term security of natural gas supplies to Europe will be improved.

Direct connection between the EU and Russia

Nord Stream will directly connect the Russia's United Gas Transmission system to the European gas grid. Thereby Europe will have direct access to Russian gas reserves. Its implementation will diversify gas transport routes and make supplies more flexible and reliable.

Positive economic impact

The investment of 7.4 billion euros in the subsea pipeline construction will give a strong impetus to the European economy by generating a great volume of new business for various suppliers including pipe mills, pipe layers, engineering companies, environmental consulting agencies, and others providing coatings, logistics, maritime services, etc.

Pan-European importance

The European Union has recognized Nord Stream as a priority energy project, with the status of a “Trans-European Network” (TEN). This means that Nord Stream is a key project for the sustainability and security of supplies in Europe.

New benchmark for EU-Russia dialogue

Successful implementation of Nord Stream will set an example of efficient multilateral cooperation for trans-national projects, in particular in assessing environmental impacts in a transboundary context.
Nord Stream will boost the export capacity of Russian natural gas, and will open a new chapter in the history of cooperation between the world’s largest gas exporter Gazprom and European gas companies.