Finnish gov’t OKs Russia-Germany gas pipeline

The pipeline, which would run for 374 kilometres through Finland’s economic zone in the Baltic Sea, is a controversial project opposed by Poland and several other countries.

The project still requires a construction permit from Finland's local authorities, according to the Reuters news agency.

Reuters quoted the pipeline’s prospective operator, Nord Stream 2 AG, as saying that it expected the local permit to be granted within the next few weeks.

In late March, Germany’s maritime authority approved the project, making Germany the first country to have issued all the permits needed for the pipeline to be built through its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone, according to Poland’s PAP news agency.

Experts commented at the time that the German decision greenlighting the project did not necessarily mean that the contested pipeline would be built.

Other countries along the route of the planned undersea gas pipeline, among them Denmark, have yet to approve the project.

If built, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline would supply around 55 billion cubic metres of natural gas a year from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea, circumventing Poland, the Baltic states and Ukraine.

Poland, the Baltic states and Ukraine all oppose the project.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki was cited as saying in mid-February that the planned pipeline was “unnecessary, detrimental and divisive.”

Polish President Andrzej Duda has also criticised Nord Stream 2.

The US State Department spokeswoman said last month that the US government opposed Nord Stream 2 as the project would undermine Europe’s energy security and stability.

Heather Nauert said at a department press briefing that companies engaged in the construction and financing of the pipeline “could expose themselves to sanctions” under US law.

(gs/pk)

Source: onet.pl, Reuters