Finnish Government grants consent for Nord Stream’s offshore gas pipeline project

On 5 November 2009, the Government granted consent for Nord Stream AG’s plan to construct an offshore natural gas pipeline system that would traverse the Baltic Sea. Nord Stream will act as the operator of the natural gas pipeline system, which involves two parallel pipelines.

These pipelines, approximately 1,220 km long, are intended to run from Portovaya Bay in the Vyborg-St. Petersburg region on the Russian coast of the Gulf of Finland to Lubmin in Greifswalder Bodden in Germany. Approximately 375 km of the route will lie within Finland’s exclusive economic zone. The pipelines are meant to link part of Russia’s natural gas deposits to the European gas network. Natural gas will be delivered via Germany to e.g. Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain, France, Poland and the Czech Republic.

The consent granted by the Government is valid for a period of 50 years, and is renewable by application thereafter. The decision is immediately enforceable regardless of the possible appeal process.

One of the conditions set by the Government was that the project should be implemented in conformity with the precautionary principle, paying particular attention to the Baltic Sea’s sensitivity and vulnerability. Nord Stream must take all possible measures to prevent and minimise any damage. 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.

Furthermore, Nord Stream must provide the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard Headquarters with the information required for maintaining maritime safety and border security. Nord Stream must also meet requirements for providing further clarification as laid down in the statement by the Uusimaa Regional Environment Centre.

By definition, the consent by the Government does not grant the applicant the right to engage in actual construction measures within Finland’s exclusive economic zone. Therefore, enforcement of the Government's consent does not involve any direct impacts on the legal status of third parties, the marine environment, or maritime safety within the exclusive economic zone. However, due to the consent, the applicant may proceed with the process for a construction permit in accordance with the Water Act.

 http://www.nord-stream.com/en/the-pipeline.html(Link to another website.)