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Wednesday, 23.10.2024, 11:25
Nord Stream takes key steps towards completing its twin-pipeline system
The two-week process of adapting,
testing and certifying the integrated control system for the twin pipelines
requires the valves at both Russian and German landfall to be shut, gas from
the Portovaya Compressor Station to be stopped and the flow of gas through the
pipeline to be temporarily halted. All official notifications and technical
preparations for this important work have been completed, and Nord Stream AG confirms that the valves
will be closed on 15 April 2012. The adapting has been planned in close
co-operation with Nord Stream’s
upstream and downstream partners, informed BC Nord Stream's press service.
After all the required tests have been completed and certifications have been
received, it is planned that Nord Stream
will re-open the valves towards the end of April. The first of Nord Stream’s twin pipelines has
transported to its downstream European partners all the gas nominated and
supplied by Gazprom Export. To date
this totals approximately 3.5 billion cubic metres (bcm) during the
ramp-up phase since becoming operational in November.
In the meantime pipe-laying of the second of the twin 1,224 kilometre pipelines
is about to be completed, and the three sections will be joined underwater off
the Finnish coast in mid-May and off the Swedish coast in early June.
Pre-commissioning and commissioning of the second pipeline will take place over
the summer, and the second line is on schedule to become operational as part of
the integrated twin-pipeline system towards the end of the year.