The Portovaya booster station, where the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline was launched.

08.10.2012#1256195

The Portovaya booster station, where the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline was launched.

08.10.2012#1256194

The Portovaya booster station, where the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline was launched.

08.10.2012#1256193

A worker at the Portovaya booster station, where the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline was launched.

08.10.2012#1256192

A worker at the Portovaya booster station, where the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline was launched.

08.10.2012#1256191

A test treatment facility at the Portovaya booster station, where the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline was launched.

08.10.2012#1256190

The Portovaya booster station, where the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline was launched.

08.10.2012#1256189

A test treatment facility at the Portovaya booster station, where the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline was launched.

08.10.2012#1256188

The Portovaya booster station, where the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline was launched.

08.10.2012#1256187

Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, his deputy Alexander Medvedev, Russian Presidential Executive Office head Sergei Ivanov, from left, foreground, and Nord Stream AG head of the shareholders' committee Gerhard Schroeder during the launch of the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, at the Portovaya booster station, Vyborg.

08.10.2012#1256177

From left: Nord Stream AG head of the shareholders' committee Gerhard Schroeder, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and Russian Presidential Executive Office head Sergei Ivanov during the launch of the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, in Vyborg.

08.10.2012#1256175

From left: Nord Stream CEO Matthias Warnig, Nord Stream AG head of the shareholders' committee Gerhard Schroeder, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and Russian Presidential Executive Office head Sergei Ivanov during the launch of the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, at the Portovaya booster station in Vyborg.

08.10.2012#1256174

German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a video link-up at a ceremony to launch the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, at the Portovaya booster station in Vyborg.

08.10.2012#1256173

Russian President Vladimir Putin during a video link-up at a ceremony to launch the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, at the Portovaya booster station in Vyborg.

08.10.2012#1256172

Russian Presidential Executive Office head Sergei Ivanov during the launch of the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, at the Portovaya booster station in Vyborg.

08.10.2012#1256171

The Portovaya booster station where the the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline was launched.

08.10.2012#1256170

The Portovaya booster station where the the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline was launched.

08.10.2012#1256169

Russian Presidential Executive Office head Sergei Ivanov speaks at a ceremony to launch the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline at the Portovaya booster station, Vyborg.

08.10.2012#1256151

Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, Leningrad Region Governor Alexander Drozdenko, Russian Presidential Executive Office head Sergei Ivanov, from right, Nord Stream CEO Matthias Warnig and Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak before the launch of the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, in Vyborg.

08.10.2012#1256150

A test treatment facility at the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline at the Portovaya booster station, Vyborg.

08.10.2012#1256149

The entrance to the test treatment facility of the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline at the Portovaya booster station, Vyborg.

08.10.2012#1256148

The map of the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline at the Portovaya booster station, Vyborg.

08.10.2012#1256147

From right: Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and Russian Presidential Executive Office head Sergei Ivanov before the launch of the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, at the Portovaya booster station, Vyborg.

08.10.2012#1256134

Nord Stream AG head of the shareholders' committee Gerhard Schroeder speaks at a ceremony to launch the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline at the Portovaya booster station, Vyborg.

08.10.2012#1256133

Nord Stream AG head of the shareholders' committee Gerhard Schroeder speaks at a ceremony to launch the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline at the Portovaya booster station, Vyborg.

08.10.2012#1256132

Nord Stream AG head of the shareholders' committee Gerhard Schroeder speaks at a ceremony to launch the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline at the Portovaya booster station, Vyborg.

08.10.2012#1256131

Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller speaks at a ceremony to launch the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline at the Portovaya booster station, Vyborg.

08.10.2012#1256130

Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller speaks at a ceremony to launch the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline at the Portovaya booster station, Vyborg.

08.10.2012#1256129

Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller speaks at a ceremony to launch the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline at the Portovaya booster station, Vyborg.

08.10.2012#1256127

The launch of the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline at the Portovaya booster station, Vyborg.

08.10.2012#1256107

From right: Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, Nord Stream CEO Matthias Warnig, Nord Stream AG head of the shareholders' committee Gerhard Schroeder, Russian Presidential Executive Office head Sergei Ivanov and Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller during the launch of the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, in Vyborg.

08.10.2012#1256093

From left: Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, Russian Presidential Executive Office head Sergei Ivanov and Nord Stream AG head of the shareholders' committee Gerhard Schroeder during the launch of the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, in Vyborg.

08.10.2012#1256092

From left: Russian Presidential Executive Office head Sergei Ivanov, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, Nord Stream AG head of the shareholders' committee Gerhard Schroeder and Nord Stream CEO Matthias Warnig during the launch of the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, in Vyborg.

08.10.2012#1256091

From right: Nord Stream CEO Matthias Warnig, Nord Stream AG head of the shareholders' committee Gerhard Schroeder, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and Russian Presidential Executive Office head Sergei Ivanov during the launch of the second section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, in Vyborg.

08.10.2012#1256069