The shut down of the Nord Stream is prolonged for a day – till December 16th
The temporary shut down of gas supply by the Nord Stream gas pipeline due to the technical maintenance of the connecting gas pipeline in Russia will be prolonged untill December 16th, the operator of the Nord Stream project reports.
It was initially planned to complete the works on December 15th but by the request of Gazprom the period of holding the works was prolonged untill December 16th, the report says.
During the period of the shut down Nord Stream will also hold the works on the technical maintenance of the coastal objects in Germany. The regular technical maintenance of the objects of the gas transport system within the first year of operation is the necessary measure of safety and reliable work of the gas pipeline.
It is reported that the partners of Nord Stream have been notified about the shut down.
The pumping by the Nord Stream gas pipeline was already stopped on December 6th for a few hours. The representative of the project’s operator – company Nord Stream AG – explained to Prime that it was a short-time shut down for the technical maintenance works necessary for setting up the pipeline at the stage of reaching the projected capacity.
The first stage of the gas pipeline Nord Stream connecting Russia and Germany by the bottom of the Baltic Sea with the capacity of 27.5 bln cubic meters a year was launched on November 8th. The launch of the 2nd stage, after which the capacity will double, is planned for October 2012. At the present time 917 km out of 1,224 km have been constructed (the 2nd branch).
It is planned that in 2012 via the 1st branch of Nord Stream up to 27.5 bln cubic meters will be transported in conformity with the technical capabilities. The deputy head of Gazprom and the CEO of Gazprom export, A. Medvedev, said that the certain volumes will depend on the orders of the consumers, but the contract volume for 2012 will be 27.5 bln cubic meters.
The shareholders of the Nord Stream project are Gazprom (51%), Wintershall Holding and E.ON Ruhrgas (15.5% each), GDF Suez (France) and Gasunie (the Netherlands) - 9% each.
http://rosinvest.com/novosti/886529
Translated by Galiya Musabekova
