The first three sections of the 1224 kilometre, 55 billion cubic meters per year, Nord Stream gas pipeline have been laid along the bed of the Baltic Sea
They will be joined over the summer with the pipeline, the first of two which will make up the completed Nord Stream project, expected to become operational by the end of this year. The second pipeline is expected to become operational in 2012.Nord Stream Managing Director, Matthias Warnig, hailed the news as timely with the recent nuclear disaster in Japan underlining the importance of gas as a key part of Europe’s energy mix, and Russia as the key supplier.“At a time when recent world events have led to increased concern about nuclear energy and energy imports from North Africa, our major new infrastructure project takes on more importance for both Europe and Russia.”The project has seen up to 30 vessels undertaking pipe laying activities in the Baltic, with the pipeline linking Russia with Germany and feeding into European pipeline systems.