Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller said that both lines of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline will be commissioned by the end of 2019.
"We will use the lessons learned by the Nord Stream AG, accumulated during construction and operation of the Nord Stream-1 pipeline. The successful track record in the Baltic Sea will help us to optimize construction costs and the time-frame. Both lines of the Nord Stream-2 will be commissioned by 2019 year-end," TASS cited Miller as saying.
Gazprom’s CEO added that "we will initiate the establishment of a joint company for the project implementation" in the very near future. "The Nord Stream-2 will be built for new volumes of our exports. Establishment of the new transport infrastructure on the shortest route connecting the gas fields in Northern Russia and European markets will promote the improvement of safety and reliability of supplies under new contracts," Miller said.
