The Russian pipe producer United Metallurgical Company (OMK) has announced that it has won a supply tender for part of the Nord Stream gas pipeline.
On September 25, Nord Stream's board of directors decided to award the Russian company OMK and the German pipe producer Europipe with an agreement for the supply of 1.1 million metric tons of pipes for the underwater part of its gas pipeline.
The pipe supplies will be commenced in 2008 and are scheduled to be completed in 2009.
The pipes, which will be produced at OMK's Vyksa Steel, will be 1,220 mm in diameter and have wall thicknesses of 30.9 mm, 34.6 mm and 41.0 mm.
"We believe that this [victory in the Nord Stream tender] benefits not only us but also to whole Russian pipe industry", said OMK president Mr. Vladimir Markin.
The first load to be delivered to the Nord Stream gas pipeline, which is currently under construction, will consist of 280,000 metric tons of pipes from OMK.