Putin gives start for construction of Ukhta-Torzhok-2 gas pipeline that will fill Nord Stream II
MOSCOW. Oct 27 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin via video link gave the start for the construction and the welding of the first joint of the Ukhta-Torzhok-2 trunk pipeline, which will be part of the project to expand the Russian gas transportation system for the provision of gas transfers to the Nord Stream maritime trunk pipeline.
"Today we gave the start for a large, necessary project - the construction of the second line of the Ukhta-Torzhok gas pipeline. It will create new jobs for all five regions through which it will pass," the president said during the ceremony.
Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and Komi republic acting Governor Sergei Gaplikov were present at the ceremony in Ukhta, an Interfax correspondent reported.
Miller said about 3,000 kilometers of new gas pipelines would be built in order to prepare the Unified Gas Supply System (UGSS) to supply gas for the Nord Stream II pipeline, the planned export pipeline to Germany across the Baltic Sea from the Russian port of Ust-Luga.
The 970-km Ukhta-Torzhok-2 pipeline will have capacity to ship 45 billion cubic meters a year. The project stipulates construction of eight compressor stations with 689 megawatts of combined capacity.
Expansion of the northern corridor of the UGSS, from the Yamal Peninsula to the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland, is needed to supply 55 bcm of gas a year to Nord Stream II and includes construction of new pipelines to move gas from the big Bovanenkovo field: Bovanenkovo-Ukhta-2, Ukhta-Torzhok-2 and Pochinki-Grayzovets.
Construction of Ukhta-Torzhok-2 is scheduled for completion before the end of 2019, when all the other gas transportation capacity needed to supply Nord Stream II will also be ready to enter service.