The pipe sections will be joined together underwater off the coast of Finland and Sweden in the European summer.
The new pipeline system will start transporting natural gas from Russia directly to the European Union in the last quarter of 2011, and construction of the second of the twin pipelines is scheduled for completion in 2012.
“Europe will soon have the security of the privately-financed, $US10.7 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.
When both lines are completed in late 2012, Nord Stream will have the capacity to transport 55 Bcm/a of gas from Russia to Europe.