"The issues related to the implementation of the Nord Stream-2 project were discussed at the meeting. It was noted that the Italian company Saipem is one of the contenders for the contract to lay the pipeline," Miller told reporters.
Gazprom and Saipem have already collaborated in the construction of offshore pipelines. In particular, Saipem took part in the laying of branches of the Blue Stream and Nord Stream-1 pipelines. It was assumed that the company will take part in laying the South Stream pipeline. However, as the project was suspended, the contract with the Italian company was terminated.
The Nord Stream-2 project, which plans to use the original Nord Stream pipeline for 86-percent of the route before branching off, could provide up to 55 billion cubic meters of direct gas supplies from Russian shores through the Baltic Sea to the German coast.
In September 2015, Gazprom signed a shareholder agreement on the extension of the pipeline with the international energy companies BASF, E.ON, Engie, OMV and Shell.
