The Pipeline
The Nord Stream twin pipeline system through the Baltic Sea runs from Vyborg, Russia to Lubmin near Greifswald, Germany. The pipelines are built and operated by Nord Stream AG.
The Nord Stream route crosses the Exclusive Economic Zones of Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany, as well as the territorial waters of Russia, Denmark, and Germany.
Direct Connection Between Russia and the EU
The two 1,224-kilometre offshore pipelines are the most direct connection between the vast gas reserves in Russia and energy markets in the European Union. When fully operational in the last quarter of 2012, the twin pipelines will have the capacity to transport a combined total of 55 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas a year to businesses and households in the EU for at least 50 years. As the project strengthens the EU energy market and reinforces security of supply, the project has been designated as being of "European interest" by the European Parliament and Council.
Construction of Line 1 of the twin pipeline system began in April 2010, and was completed in June 2011. Transportation of gas through Line 1 began in mid November 2011. Construction of Line 2, which runs parallel to Line 1, began in May 2011. The second line is planned to come on stream in the last quarter of 2012. Each line has a transport capacity of roughly 27.5 bcm of natural gas per annum.
Reliable Gas Sources
One of the key gas sources for the Nord Stream Pipeline is the Yuzhno-Russkoye field. It has a design gas production capacity of 25 bcm per year. The Yuzhno-Russkoye gas condensate field, located in the Krasnoselkupsky region of the Yamal-Nenets in Western Siberia (Russia), covers about 1,100 square kilometres of gas productive area. Proven recoverable gas reserves of more than 1,000 billion cubic meters of natural gas make Yuzhno-Russkoye a reliable provider for Europe’s gas supply. The gas field is developed by Severneftegazprom , a joint venture project between Gazprom, E.ON Ruhrgas and Wintershall.
Infrastructure for Secure Gas Supply
A 917-kilometre onshore pipeline in Russian territory is being built by Gazprom to connect Nord Stream to the Russian gas transmission system. Two onshore connections from Greifswald to the south and west of Germany, with a total length of 850 kilometres, built by WINGAS and E.ON Ruhrgas, will connect the pipeline with the European gas grid.
Nord Stream will deliver gas to the receiving station in Lubmin, Germany, where it can be transported onwards to Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, the UK, and other countries.
