Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel
have had a telephone discussion on energy security in Europe after the second
Nord Stream pipeline is launched, RIA Novosti cites the
president's press service.
In addition, they discussed current issues on the bilateral agenda,
including preparations for the upcoming 14th round of
Russian-German interstate consultations in November in Moscow.
Supply of gas to the second line of the pipeline could begin in
October. Laying of the second line was completed ahead of schedule on
April 18. Commercial gas supplies to the first pipeline of Nord Stream
began on 8 November 2011.When the full capacity of both lines is
reached, the performance of the pipeline will be 55 billion cubic
meters of gas a year.
"Nord Stream" runs under the Baltic Sea from Port Bay (near
Vyborg) to the German coast (near Greifswald). The pipeline is over
1200 kilometres long. The project is implemented by a joint
venture, Nord Stream AG. At the moment the shares in the company are as
follows: "Gazprom" - 51%, German Wintershall and E.On - 15.5% each,
the Dutch firm Gasunie and France's GDF Suez - 9% each.
