Russia-based pipe producer United Metallurgical Company (OMK) has stated that the South Stream Transport company has officially certified large diameter pipes produced by OMK from slabs supplied by Russian steelmaker NLMK.
This certification allows the use of pipes produced from NLMK steel for the underwater part of the South Stream gas pipe.
In 2012, OMK signed a long-term contract with NLMK for the supply of slabs produced at the Lipetsk production site. In November 2013, the companies signed a long-term cooperation agreement. According to the agreement, NLMK will supply more than 2 million mt of steel slabs between 2014-2016 that feature superior chemical composition and steel structure standards, and in dimensions that are unique for the Russian market. OMK has purchased over 1 million mt of steel slabs for the production of large diameter pipes under the agreement.