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Russian gas supply to Europe increases 20% in 2011

20 August 2011 04:10 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Gas shipments from Russia to the European Union rose by 20 percent in the first half of this year, Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"Volume of Russian gas consumption in Europe rises. We feel the growing need from Europe," Shmatko told the Russia Today television channel.

He added that the Northern Stream pipeline, which is currently under construction, would minimize the Ukrainian transit risks.

First stage of the underwater Northern Stream pipeline is scheduled to become fully operational in the end of 2011. Its second line to be put in service in 2012.

The capacity of the pipeline could reach 55 billion cubic meters annually, occupying one third of Russia’s total gas exports to Europe.