Public Participation in the Baltic Sea Region on Nord Stream Pipeline Project Finalised
June 8, 2009 | Zug | The nine-country public participation period on Nord Stream’s transboundary environmental report for the planned gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea has now ended in line with the agreed schedule. The nine Baltic Sea countries will now inform each other about the statements received from the public and stakeholders.
In the five countries through whose waters the pipeline will pass – Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany – Nord Stream has submitted applications for the construction of the planned pipeline. The authorities of these countries have to consider potential transboundary environmental impacts of the pipeline before issuing permits to Nord Stream.
Nord Stream looks forward to cooperate further with the authorities to resolve outstanding issues over the summer, with a view to permits being granted before the end of the year. Construction of the 1,200 km pipeline is scheduled to start in early 2010.
Transboundary Environmental Report result of intensive dialogue with authorities throughout the Baltic region
“Since 2006, we have been in intensive dialogue with the authorities throughout the region in order to understand and take account of their concerns,” says Dirk von Ameln, Nord Stream’s Permitting Director. “The Nord Stream consortium has spent more than 100 million Euros on environmental impact studies and environmental planning to ensure that the design and routing of the pipeline through the Baltic Sea will be environmentally sound and safe.”
In March, Nord Stream as the project developer had provided the Baltic Sea countries with the transboundary environmental report (‘Espoo Report’) in nine languages and English. According to the United Nations Espoo Convention, countries under whose jurisdiction a proposed activity is envisaged to take place must inform their neighbouring countries about potential transboundary environmental impacts. Nord Stream also participated in twelve public hearings in the Baltic Sea countries in March to May in which Nord Stream’s environmental documentation were discussed.
Nord Stream will eventually be able to supply 55 billion cubic metres of natural gas a year, the equivalent of up to 25 per cent of the additional imported gas that Europe is expected to require due to the increased role of gas in the energy mix and depleting resources in the North Sea.
