The 1,200-kilometre long North European Gas Pipeline will link Russia’s Baltic coast near Vyborg with Germany’s Baltic coast near Greifswald, making it possible to deliver gas in close proximity to Europe’s main markets.
The gas pipeline is expected to begin operation in 2010. The first stage of work will involve the construction of a pipeline with throughput capacity of 27.5 billion cubic metres of gas per year. The second stage of construction will see the building of a second pipeline that will boost total throughput capacity to 55 cubic metres per year.
A joint Russian-Germany company, the North European Gas Pipeline Company SA (NEGP) was established in Zug (Switzerland) in December 2005, to carry out feasibility studies and prepare for the construction work. Russia’s Gazprom holds a 51-percent stake in the company, and Germany’s BASF and E.ON each hold 24.5 percent.