The capacity of Nord Stream, a pipeline to carry 55 billion cu m of Russian natural gas annually to western Europe under the Baltic Sea, could be further increased, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Monday.
"The total capacity will be 55 billion cu m. If necessary, we can increase this capacity. But this will not be required, if the South Stream gas project is implemented on time," Putin said.
Nord Stream, whose shareholders include Gazprom, and German and Dutch companies, will consist of twin lines, each with a capacity of 27.5 billion cubic meters a year, extending 1,220 kilometers, the longest underwater pipeline in the world.
It will run from the Russian city of Vyborg near the Finnish border to the German port of Greifswald. The first stage of the pipeline is expected to go online in late 2011 and the second in 2012.
Putin also said that the test operation of the Nord Stream would be launched already in mid-2011.
"In 2011, we'll finish work on the Nord Stream, and in June next year it will be ready, and the first test pumping of gas will begin. In late 2011, gas will start flowing to European consumers under the Nord Stream project," Putin said.
Apart from Nord Stream, Russia is also building the South Stream gas pipeline under the Black Sea, which is designed to pump annually 31 billion cubic meters of Russian natural gas to Bulgaria and further on to Italy and Austria.
The pipeline's capacity could eventually reach 63 billion cubic meters annually. The gas pipeline is expected to start operating in late 2015 and account for about 35% of Russian natural gas supplies to Europe.
MOSCOW, April 26 (RIA Novosti)
