Finland approves Russia's Nord Stream pipeline through Finnish waters
Finland approves Russia's Nord Stream pipeline through Finnish waters
13:41, November 06, 2009 
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The Finnish government has granted consent for Russia's North Stream offshore gas pipeline through Finnish waters, according to a statement released by Finnish government on Thursday.
One of the conditions set by Finnish Government was that the gas pipeline project should be implemented in conformity with the precautionary principle, paying particular attention to the BalticSea's sensitivity and vulnerability. Nord Stream must take all possible measures to prevent and minimize any damage to the marine environment. Moreover, the project must be implemented so as not to prevent any potential subsequent energy, data communications or other infrastructure projects, even if they would intersect with the gas pipelines within Finland's exclusive economic zone.
However, the West Finland Regional Environmental Center is still expected to issue a necessary environmental permit by January 2010.
Nord Stream natural gas pipeline system, which involves two parallel pipelines and approximately 1,220 km long, are intended to run from Vyborg of Russia to Greifswalder in Germany across Baltic Sea. Approximately 375 kilometers of the underwater section will pass through Finland's exclusive economic zone.
The pipeline, planned to pass through the territorial waters of five states, will enable Russia to deliver natural gas via Germany to e.g. Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain, France, Poland and the Czech Republic.
The Sweden government has approved the project's construction in its waters earlier the same day and Denmark made the same decision in October.
Source: Xinhua
One of the conditions set by Finnish Government was that the gas pipeline project should be implemented in conformity with the precautionary principle, paying particular attention to the BalticSea's sensitivity and vulnerability. Nord Stream must take all possible measures to prevent and minimize any damage to the marine environment. Moreover, the project must be implemented so as not to prevent any potential subsequent energy, data communications or other infrastructure projects, even if they would intersect with the gas pipelines within Finland's exclusive economic zone.
However, the West Finland Regional Environmental Center is still expected to issue a necessary environmental permit by January 2010.
Nord Stream natural gas pipeline system, which involves two parallel pipelines and approximately 1,220 km long, are intended to run from Vyborg of Russia to Greifswalder in Germany across Baltic Sea. Approximately 375 kilometers of the underwater section will pass through Finland's exclusive economic zone.
The pipeline, planned to pass through the territorial waters of five states, will enable Russia to deliver natural gas via Germany to e.g. Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain, France, Poland and the Czech Republic.
The Sweden government has approved the project's construction in its waters earlier the same day and Denmark made the same decision in October.
Source: Xinhua
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