Nord Stream Cheaper than Ukraine Gas Transit
Gazprom Deputy CEO Alexander Medvedev has said that gas transport by the newly launched Nord Stream pipeline provides better economics that the use of traditional transit routes.
"The tariffs for this gas pipeline - I'll let you into a little secret - will be lower than for our main gas transportation routes," Medvedev said on Russia 24 TV channel.
When it hits full capacity for 55 bcm, Nord Stream will be carrying 22 bcm of gas per year under new contracts and around 30 bcm under old ones, Medvedev said.
Statistics indicate the first strand of the pipeline is so far operating at around a third of its capacity, or approximately 8.5 bcm in annual terms.