According to the agreement, Gasunie will receive a 9% share in the Nord Stream share capital, coming from Wintershall and E.ON Ruhrgas that will each cede 4.5% of the shares, while Gazprom will have an option to acquire 9% in BBL.
Mr Miller said: The agreement signed signifies the beginning of a new phase of co-operation with Gasunie. By implementing large-scale projects aimed at secure supply of European consumers we will significantly contribute to ensuring the energy security of the continent.
Upon execution of the deal, the shareholding structure in Nord Stream will be Gazprom (51%), Wintershall Holding and E.ON Ruhrgas (20% each), Nederlandse Gasunie (9%). BBL is responsible for constructing and operating the BBL interconnector between the Netherlands and Great Britain.
The European Commission gave the Nord Stream project a special status of the Trans-European Network (TEN). According to the forecasts, gas import by the EU will increase 200bcm, or more than 50%, in the next 10 years.
