OREANDA-NEWS. October 28, 2015. The first joint of the Ukhta – Torzhok-2 gas main was officially welded in Ukhta today. Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee and Sergey Gaplikov, Acting Head of the Republic of Komi took part in the ceremony.

Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the command to start welding during a video call.

Background

On September 4, 2015 Gazprom, BASF, E.ON, ENGIE, OMV and Shell inked the Shareholders Agreement to construct the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline system with the capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of gas a year from Russia to Germany across the Baltic Sea.

A new gas transmission network integrated into Russia’s Unified Gas Supply System needs to be built to feed natural gas to Nord Stream 2. New gas pipelines will stretch for nearly 3 thousand kilometers.

The construction of the Ukhta – Torzhok-2 gas main is a top priority of this work. The required volumes of natural gas will be delivered to northwestern parts of Russia via the pipeline with a view to ensure gasification process and gas deliveries to domestic consumers as well as to supply gas beyond Russia.

The length of Ukhta – Torzhok-2 will be around 970 kilometers, design capacity – 45 billion cubic meters of gas a year. Eight gas compressor stations with an aggregate capacity of 689 MW will be built along the gas pipeline route.

The gas pipeline will be built and completed by late 2019.