First line of Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline now laid - Putin
ST. PETERSBURG. June 4 (Interfax) - The pipes for the first line of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline have now been laid, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
"I am pleased to announce that today, 2.5 hours ago, the laying of pipes for the first line of the gas pipeline was successfully completed," he said.
Work on the second line is ongoing, he said.
"The linear work as a whole, including the offshore section, is complete. At the German end everything is in order, all there is left to do is to raise and weld them at the Russian end, but the laying of the pipes is now complete," he said.
Also this week, the Russian linear part of the gas route to the Slavyanskaya compressor station made ready, Putin said. He said this was one of the world's most powerful stations and was the new pipeline's point of departure. "Slavyanskaya is receiving gas. So Gazprom is now ready to put gas into Nord Stream 2. This route will directly link the gas transmission systems of Russia and Germany and just like Nord Stream 1 it will work for the energy security of Europe, for reliable supplies to European consumers in general," he said.
"This project is highly cost effective, and complies fully with the most stringent environmental standards and technical requirements," he said.
"We are ready to continue implementing high-tech projects like this with our European and other partners. And we expect the logic of mutual advantage and mutual benefit will inevitably prevail over all the current political situation's various artificial barriers," he said.