Nord Stream Utilisation Averages 80% in 2016 – 43.8 bcm transported to the European Union
Jan. 10, 2017 | Zug | In 2016, the Nord Stream Pipeline operated at 80 per cent of its annual capacity of 55 billion cubic metres (bcm). 43.8 bcm of natural gas were delivered to consumers in the European Union. This is yet another increase compared to the previous years: 39.1 bcm in 2015 (71 per cent), 35.5 bcm in 2014 (65 per cent), and 23.8 bcm in 2013 (43 per cent).
In the five years since the start of operations of the pipeline system, Nord Stream has reliably and safely fulfilled all transport nominations without interruptions. Until the end of 2016, a total of 154.4 bcm has been transported to the European Union.
The average utilisation rate of the pipeline has constantly increased over the past years. In December 2016, the average load was as high as 87 per cent – a very good figure for a gas pipeline.
The twin pipeline system through the Baltic Sea from Vyborg, Russia to Lubmin near Greifswald, Germany is the shortest connection between the vast gas reserves in Russia and energy markets in the European Union. In Germany, the gas is transferred to the connecting pipelines OPAL and NEL.
