Gas Pipeline Heads Toward Finland

OAO Lengazspetsstroi has begun the final stage in the construction of a gas pipeline linking St Petersburg and Vyborg, and stretching to the Finnish border. The pipeline was commissioned by Gazprom, and intended mainly for gas exports. The pipeline has th

<BR>OAO Lengazspetsstroi has begun the final stage in the construction of a gas pipeline linking St Petersburg and Vyborg, and stretching to the Finnish border. The pipeline was commissioned by Gazprom, and intended mainly for gas exports. The pipeline has the capacity to carry 25 million cubic metres per day, of which 18 million will reach Finland, and the remainder will fuel the Vyborg gas system.<BR>The program is to cost over 200m roubles, but Lengazspetsstroi Technical Director Valery Gusev says that the actual cost is half as much again, due to a combined financing system involving mutual credits.<BR>The final section of the pipeline is to be laid in December of this year.