The operator of the Russia-led Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline on the bed of the Baltic Sea said the first of the project’s two lines has been filled with so-called technical gas, while still awaiting clearance to start sales to Europe. The pipeline, funded by Kremlin-owned energy giant Gazprom (GAZP.MM) and its European partners, is expected to gain certification from a German regulator to begin commercial sales of natural gas, though the approval process could take several months. About 177 million cubic metres of technical gas, needed to maintain pressure in the pipeline for future gas sales, has been pumped into the pipeline, reaching a pressure of 103 bar. “This pressure is sufficient to start […]