OREANDA-NEWS. From July 16 to July 30, the Nord Stream gas pipeline suspended gas transportation due to planned work. This was reported to the Russian media in the company - operator Nord Stream AG and confirmed by the data of the Opal Gastransport GmbH system. Both lines of the pipeline were suspended for annual scheduled maintenance, which the company notified on July 9. During these works, testing of mechanical components and software and hardware of the pipeline is carried out.

As noted in the Nord Stream report, annual planned work is carried out as part of a long-term strategy for ensuring the integrity of the gas pipeline. The maintenance schedule is coordinated with Nord Stream partners. "Required equipment maintenance is part of scheduled maintenance and is carried out for the seventh time since the start of operation of the gas pipeline", said project company Nord Stream AG. It's noted that mechanical components and automation systems are thoroughly tested to ensure reliable, safe and efficient operation of two gas lines during a design service life of at least 50 years.

The Nord Stream gas pipeline consists of two lines with a length of 1224 km and with a throughput of 27.5 billion cubic meters of gas per year. It connects the energy system of the European Union with the largest natural gas fields directly through the Baltic Sea. The overland continuation of Nord Stream in Germany are the NEL and OPAL gas pipelines.

The shareholders of Nord Stream are Gazprom with a 51% stake, the German companies Wintershall and E.ON Ruhgas with a 15.5% stake, as well as the Dutch Gasunie and the French ENGIE with a 9% share. Recall that Russia and partners are engaged in the construction of the Nord Stream - 2 gas pipeline, which will help in the future to do without gas transit through Ukraine, even if the first line of the gas pipeline stops.