Nord Stream gas pipeline to be build on time – Putin

Construction of the Nord Stream gas pipeline will be completed on time, Russia’s Prime Minister Putin said, adding that the gas pipeline could begin operations by 2011.

The new gas project will transport the blue fuel from Russia to Europe while passing through several Baltic countries – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

The route required approvals from several European countries. Denmark recently gave the project the green light while Finland is expected to announce its decision on constructing the Nord Stream gas pipeline across the country's economic zone in the Baltic on November 5, Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said."

The situation looks as if by November 5 the government will compile proposals to make a positive decision on Nord Stream. After that, matters will depend on the environmental study," Vanhanen said during a joint press conference following talks with Prime Minister Putin in St. Petersburg.

Vladimir Putin said the pipeline is already being laid in both Russia and Germany and the project is expected to be completed on time.

“Nord Stream will be built within the time frame set before, and we thank our Finish colleagues for that,” Vladimir Putin said. “Also, we'll build the South Stream pipeline swiftly, there are no doubts about it.”

The south stream project will transport gas from Russia to Bulgaria, where it will take two separate routes to Italy via Greece and Serbia.

The southern pipeline is scheduled to begin operating by 2013.

The South Stream and Nord Stream projects are aimed at diversifying transit routes for Russian gas to Europe.