ZUG, Switzerland, May 5 (UPI) -- The last section of the 760-mile first leg of the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline is in place and ready to be joined together, the pipeline consortium said.
Russia aims to diversify its European transit options for natural gas through Nord Stream. The dual pipeline will run from the shores of the Gulf of Finland through the Baltic Sea to Germany.
"Europe will soon have the security of the privately financed, $11 billion Nord Stream project providing a fixed link between the European gas grid and some of the world's largest gas reserves in Russia for at least 50 years," Nord Stream Managing Director Matthias Warnig said in a statement.
"At a time when recent world events have led to increased concern about nuclear energy and energy imports from North Africa, our major new infrastructure project takes on more importance for both Europe and Russia."
Environmental groups claim the dual pipeline will have negative consequences, though Warnig said his consortium was "totally committed" to environmental safety.
Nord Stream is designed to carry enough natural gas to meet the demands of 26 million homes. The first leg is scheduled to deliver gas directly from Russia toward the end of the year. Construction of the second leg will be finished by the end of 2012.
