UPDATE: Gazprom to start building Nord Stream-2 in Russia, Germany

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MOSCOW, Jun 28 (PRIME) -- Nord Stream 2 AG, an affiliate of gas giant Gazprom that builds the Nord Stream-2 natural gas pipeline, plans to start construction of two threads simultaneously near the shores of Russia and Germany, Nord Stream 2 AG Technical Director Sergei Serdyukov told reporters on Wednesday.

“Our schedule is tight this time, this is why we plan to build two threads simultaneously. It will look simple from the technological point of view, as construction of one thread will be launched on the Russian side, while construction of the other thread will be launched in Germany, and then ships will meet somewhere in the middle, wave flags at each other, and go back to their destination points,” he said.

“We should finish this in June–July 2019, so that there is time to prepare the pipeline for exploitation until the end of 2019.”

Metals companies have already produced half of the pipes necessary for construction of the pipeline, and Nord Stream 2 AG has launched concrete weight coating, he added.

Nord Stream-2 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. Gazprom is implementing the project together with Engie, OMV, Royal Dutch Shell, Uniper and Wintershall.

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