Gazprom: Nord Stream 2 AG mulls different dates of pipeline launch

MOSCOW, Nov 29 (PRIME) -- Nord Stream 2 AG, the operator of the project for construction of Russia’s Nord Stream-2 natural gas pipeline, is working on different launch dates, which depends on weather conditions, Alexei Miroshnichenko, head of gas giant Gazprom’s external economic affairs department, said in a conference call on Friday.

“Regarding the Nord Stream-2 project, some works are yet to be finished. Some time ago Gazprom CEO Alexei Borisovich Miller said that only laying of the pipes at the Danish side would take five weeks. We should not forget that winter has already started, and much depends on the weather factor. Nord Stream 2 AG project company is working out different options for launch dates of the pipeline together with specialists of Gazprom,” he said.

Previously, the official launch date was set at the end of 2019, but earlier in November, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak said that the pipeline will start operations in mid-2020.

The Nord Stream-2 project envisages construction of two lines of a natural gas pipeline with an annual capacity of up to 55 billion cubic meters, running from the Russian shore to Germany under the Baltic Sea. Russian gas giant Gazprom is implementing the project together with Germany’s E.ON and BASF, Royal Dutch Shell, OMV, and France’s Engie. The length of the pipeline’s route exceeds 1,200 kilometers.

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