The gas pipeline will link Russia and the European Union via the Baltic Sea. Nord Stream is a joint project of the four companies: OAO Gazprom, BASF SE/Wintershall Holding AG, E.ON Ruhrgas AG and N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie.
In October Demark granted construction permit to the Nord Stream project that will go to the German city of Greifswald.
- This is an important day for the Nord Stream project. We are delighted with today’s decisions made by the Swedish and Finnish governments. These two permits are further significant milestones for our project and Europe’s security of supply, said Matthias Warnig, Managing Director of Nord Stream AG in a press-release posted at the consortium’s website.
The routing of the pipeline in the Swedish and Finnish economical zones is based on a dialogue with the environmental authorities of Finland, Sweden and Denmark. The route also accommodates feedback from different stakeholder groups. When planning the pipeline, several possible routes were investigated and carefully evaluated against many factors, including seabed conditions, maritime traffic, fisheries, munitions from both World Wars, and cultural heritage, along with many environmental considerations.
- The Swedish permit is the result of extensive environmental studies, close cooperation with the authorities, as well as consultations with stakeholders and experts over the course of several years. The dialogue has always been characterized by openness and transparency, said Lars O Grönstedt, Senior Management Advisor to Nord Stream AG.
- Nord Stream highly appreciates the openness to dialogue of the Finnish authorities throughout the extensive permitting process. We are very pleased with the government’s decision, said Sebastian Sass, Head of EU Representation, Nord Stream AG.
- Reducing potential environmental impacts to the Baltic Sea was paramount to the Finnish authorities – and to Nord Stream. Pipelines can only be built after a thorough analysis of all potential risks, and the Nord Stream project is no exception, Sebastian Sass said.
