The first joint of 970 km Ukhta-Torzhok-2 natural gas pipeline with a design capacity 45 billion cubic meters of gas per year was welded this week, a small yet critical event in the construction of the larger Nord Stream 2 Gas Pipeline System, of which it is part. Nord Stream 2 is currently one of Europe's largest infrastructure projects.

Underscoring its significance Russian President Vladimir Putin himself gave the order to commence with the weld during a video call with pipeline engineers in Ukhta.

The Ukhta - Torzhok-2 line will deliver gas to northwestern parts of Russia, directly into the Nord Stream 2 gas transportation system, which will have a capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of gas a year from Russia to Germany across the Baltic Sea.

The gas pipeline will be built and completed by late 2019.