ZUG, Switzerland, March 31 (UPI) -- Construction on the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea is to start the first full week in April, executives said.
Russia aims to diversify its gas transit options through the dual Nord Stream pipeline through the Baltic Sea to Germany. The project cleared a series of environmental and regulatory hurdles in 2009 and early this year, paving the way for the start of construction.
Sebastian Sass, the head of the Nord Stream's EU representation, told the online news magazine New Europe that a pipelay vessel starts operations in April.
"Next week we expect the construction to start, meaning we are talking thereabout putting the first pieces of pipe on the seabed," he said.
The consortium managing the project, led by Russian energy giant Gazprom, was awarded $5.2 billion from 26 banks and guarantees from credit agencies in March to start building the natural gas pipeline.
The project through its dual pipelines will carry 1.9 trillion cubic feet of gas each year, which is enough for more than 26 million European households.
Nord Stream begins laying pipe in Swedish waters of the Baltic Sea about 400 miles from the starting point for the pipeline in Vyborg, Russia.
The first leg of the pipeline will be finished in 2011.
