Vladimir Putin says that the underwater section of the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline for Europe should be completed by the middle of May.
Russia aims to diversify its European transit options through Nord Stream. The dual pipeline will run from the shores of the Gulf of Finland through the Baltic Sea to Germany.
Construction on the Nord Stream pipeline started in April 2010 and it will pass through economic zones in Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said during a news conference in Denmark that the underwater section of the project is nearly complete.
"I informed our colleagues that the works are coming to an end, the undersea section will be completed on May 15," he was quoted by Russia's state-run news agency RIA Novosti as saying.
Environmental groups complained the dual pipeline would have negative consequences, though the consortium said its models indicate subsea work wouldn't create environmental problems.
The pipeline consortium said the first line, which is 92 percent compete, should begin delivering gas to European customers this year. The second line becomes operational in late 2012.
Source: UPI
Vladimir Putin Says Nord Stream Natural Gas Pipeline Nearly Finished
Apr 27, 2011, 06:25 by David Hope