Baltic Sea gas pipeline completed

The controversial Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea gas pipeline has been completed, Russian company Gazprom says.

Gazprom executive board chairman Alexey Miller made the announcement at a morning meeting on Friday, Russia's state-run TASS news agency reported, citing a company statement.

The Russian gas monopoly is expected to start delivering gas to Germany through the new pipeline in October.

The construction was due to finish in 2019, but was delayed by opposition from the United States, which views it as a geopolitical project of Russia.

Washington imposed sanctions against some entities linked to the pipeline construction.

The US government has consistently criticised the project as making Europe too dependent on Russia for its energy supply, leading to particular tensions with Germany.

However, in July Washington and Berlin announced a deal in which they vowed to take measures should Russia attempt to use energy as a weapon or commit further aggressive acts against Ukraine.

The pipeline is to deliver 55 billion cubic metres of gas per year from Russia under the Baltic Sea to Germany.