France adopted the interest in the project "Northern stream-2". This was announced by energy Minister Alexander Novak, informs TASS. He added that the extension of the "North stream" (the construction of the third and the fourth lines) will be conducted with the participation of the French energy firm ENGIE.

The shareholders agreement for the project "Nord stream-2" was signed in September in the framework of the Eastern Finance forum in Vladivostok. The new consortium includes Gazprom, E. ON, Shell, BASF/Wintershall, OMV and ENGIE. (51% of the domestic concern, ENGIE - 9%, others - 10 percent). 2 new strands total annual capacity of 55 billion cubic meters will be from the domestic coastline under the Baltic sea to Germany.

The European Commission believes that the project meets the strategy of the European Union on the diversification of sources and routes of gas supplies. Adherents of Brussels reported that if the pipeline is built, it will not only increase the dependence of Europe on the 1st route. 80 percent of gas exports from the Russian Federation after the end of construction works is to be shipped to Germany.

The existing gas pipeline "Nord stream" includes 2 strands with a length of 1224 kilometers and a throughput capacity of 27.5 billion cubic meters a year each. He runs across the Baltic sea and connects the energy system of the European Union with the largest natural gas fields in Western Siberia.
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