Russian natural gas supply to European consumers

Berlin hosted a working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee and Rainer Seele, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Wintershall Holding.

The meeting addressed the issue of Russian natural gas supply to European consumers. It was noted that direct gas transmission routes, particularly, Nord Stream played a key role in increasing the reliability of the blue fuel export supplies. In this regard the parties stressed the importance of obtaining full access to the OPAL gas pipeline transit capacities.

Background

Nord Stream is a two-string 1224 km export gas pipeline with the annual capacity of 55 billion m³ of gas running under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany. Nord Stream is operated by the Nord Stream joint venture (Gazprom owns a 51% stake, Wintershall Holding and E.ON Global Commodities – 15.5% each, Gasunie and GDF Suez – 9% each).

The OPAL and NEL gas pipelines connect Nord Stream with the European gas system. The OPAL gas pipeline is operated by OPAL Gastransport (Gazprom owns a 49.98% stake and Wintershall Holding – 50.02%).

A wholly-owned subsidiary of BASF, Wintershall Holding has been focused on oil and gas exploration and production for over 80 years.

Adapted from press release by Hannah Priestley-Eaton

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/06052015/russian-natural-gas-supply-to-european-consumers/