Gazprom launches North-European gas pipeline project

The board of directors of the leading Russian Gazprom company has decided to launch the North-European gas pipeline project /SEG/. During the board meeting, the participants approved the realisation schedule, the Gazprom press service reported.

In compliance with the project, the North-European gas pipeline must be laid across the Baltic Sea bottom to Europe and sea pipelines-bends must also be built to provide the Kaliningrad region /Russia's western enclave in the Baltic Sea/, Finland, Sweden and Denmark with gas. The project envisages gas supplies to Great Britain. SEG realisation will also allow connecting Russia's gas-transport system directly with the European gas network.

At the first stage, SEG's raw materials will come from the Nadym-Pur-Tazovsky district's gas fields, then from the gas fields in Yamala, Obsko-Tazovskaya inlet and Shtokmanovskoye gas field (West Siberia). The beginning of natural gas supplies is scheduled for 2007, with it reaching the planned production capacity in 2009.

According to preliminary estimates, in 2002 Gazprom's gas extraction will total 521.5-522 billion cubic meters. The extraction increase will be mainly ensured when the first launching complex in the Zapolyarye gas field reaches its planned production capacity. Moreover, decisive measures taken by Gazprom to return its assets will also significantly affect its gas extraction indices.

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