Nord Stream: First Gas to Flows Tuesday

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has said that Russia would begin pumping the first gas through the Nord Stream pipeline on Tuesday, with European clients receiving gas supplies next month or in November.

"Tomorrow we will start pumping technical gas near Vyborg," Putin said on Monday.

"Gradually, in a calm manner we are departing from the diktat of transit states," Putin remarked, alluding to past and present difficulties with Ukraine, through which 90 percent of Russian gas to Europe transits.

Nord Stream consists of two 1,224 kilometre natural gas pipelines through the Baltic Sea, linking Europe to Russian gas reserves. When fully operational in the last quarter of 2012, the twin pipeline system will supply 55 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas annually.

Nord Stream is a joint project of five major companies: OAO Gazprom, BASF SE/Wintershall Holding GmbH, E.ON Ruhrgas AG, N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie and GDF SUEZ S.A.