OREANDA-NEWS. September 6, 2011. The first gas has been pumped into the pipeline at the Portovaya pumping station located on the Russian-Finnish border. The specialist on duty welcomed the prime minister and invited him to take his seat at the computer. Vladimir Putin used the mouse to click on the computer screen button to start the mechanism that feeds gas into the pipeline.

The Portovaya pumping station is located at the junction of the Gryazovets-Vyborg pipeline and Nord Stream. After the last seam was welded on August 19, the pipeline was filled with nitrogen that acts as buffer between air and gas. Today natural gas was fed into the pipeline to push the buffer gas into a secure area where it will be bled off. After that natural gas will be pumped in and the pipeline pressurised.

Pipeline operation will commence when the pressure reaches the minimum required level in Germany, expected in October, starting the supply of natural gas to Europe.