Moscow - Supply of gas through the NEL pipeline, the western dryland branch of the Russian-German Nord Stream trunk pipeline system, started on Monday and will increase on Tuesday, a source on the gas market told Interfax.
The Nord Stream gas pipeline started operations a year ago. The system’s second branch was launched a month ago.
The startup of Nord Stream took place during strong oversupply on the European market, so it was decided for the nonce not to begin gas pumping through trunk lines under new contracts involving deliveries to Europe of additional unneeded gas, and to restrict transit from Ukraine.
Gas will be flowing through the NEL stretch under new contracts, a market source earlier said.
The laying of the NEL pipeline was not without difficulties, as some land-owners blocked its passage, compelling the pipeline’s builders to find a new route. This delayed the construction period by a year. Nonetheless, a section of the NEL has already been built and will deliver gas to clients.
