Gazprom expects the Nord Stream gas pipeline to be put into operation on 8 November 2011. Construction of the first line is complete, with approximately 60% of the second section of the project to be completed. With the launch of the first line, Gazprom intends to begin the second stage of environmental monitoring. The Nord Stream project involves the construction of a 1220km pipeline that will carry Russian natural gas under the Baltic Sea to Germany. The Nord Stream project’s annual capacity is planned at 55 billion CUM of gas as its two lines are launched. The second line is scheduled to be launched in September-November 2012. Gazprom currently holds 51% of the Nord Stream project, while Germany’s BASF SE/Wintershall Holding GmbH and E.ON Ruhrgas each hold 15.5%, and N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie and France’s GDF Suez each hold 9%.
