Five years ago, in October 2012, the operation of the reliable, modern and efficient Nord Stream twin gas pipeline for transportation of 55 billion cubic metres (bcm) of Russian natural gas to European consumers started.

Between 8 October 2012 and 7 October 2017, the Nord Stream Pipeline transported a total volume of 182.1 bcm of natural gas. Since the start of operations, the system successfully increased the delivered volumes of gas, and the percentage of utilized capacity. In 2014, 65 per cent of the annual capacity of the Nord Stream pipeline was used. Utilized capacity increased further to 71% in 2015, and to 80% in 2016. For 2017, we expect almost 90% of capacity utilization.

During the cold months of the last winter (2016/2017), the pipelines’ average load was extremely high. The maximum daily capacity was fully used whenever needed and the pipeline system adapted flexibly to the increased seasonal demand of European consumers without any problems.

Nord Stream AG closely cooperates with all relevant institutions and authorities, as well as with international industry-leading suppliers and consultants. Renowned certifying body DNV GL for instance regularly certifies the pipeline system and commends Nord Stream AG’s commitment to a safe and reliable gas transport.

Nord Stream AG developed national environmental monitoring programmes in close cooperation with the countries who had to grant permits for construction and operation of the Pipeline. An investment of approximately 40 million euros in these programmes is testament to Nord Stream’s commitment to safeguard the ecosystem of the Baltic Sea. The findings have confirmed that construction and operation is in line with or below the values established in the environmental impact assessments (EIA): the pipelines’ impact on the environment was minor, local and short-term only.

Nord Stream AG’s success relies on an international team of industry experts who have worked together tirelessly over the years for the success of the company and with the aim of increasing the security of supply of European consumers.

About Nord Stream

Nord Stream AG is an international joint venture established for the planning, construction and operation of the twin offshore gas pipelines through the Baltic Sea. Russian OAO Gazprom holds a 51 per cent stake in the joint venture. The German companies BASF SE/Wintershall Holding GmbH and PEG Infrastruktur AG (PEGI/E.ON subsidiary), hold 15.5 per cent each, and the Dutch gas infrastructure company N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie, along with the leading French energy provider ENGIE, each hold a 9 per cent stake. Nord Stream’s head office and operations centre are both in Zug, Switzerland.

Nord Stream’s natural gas pipelines through the Baltic Sea have the capacity to transport 55 billion cubic metres (bcm) of Russian gas a year to the EU, for at least 50 years. Both lines run in parallel for 1,224 kilometres from Portovaya Bay, near Vyborg on the Russian Baltic Sea coast to Lubmin, Germany. Each pipeline comprises some 100,000 24-tonne concrete-weight-coated steel pipes laid on the seabed along the precise route approved by the authorities of the five countries through whose waters the pipelines pass. Construction of the first Nord Stream Pipeline started in April 2010.

Nord Stream is committed to safety and the environment: the consortium invested 100 million euros in the most comprehensive research of the Baltic Sea ever in planning the pipeline. The consortium consulted widely to ensure that the design, routing, construction and operation of the pipeline will be safe and environmentally sound.

In 2006, Nord Stream was designated a “project of European interest” by the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. This inclusion in the Trans-European Energy Network Guidelines (TEN-E) of the European Union recognised Nord Stream as a key project for meeting Europe’s energy infrastructure needs.