STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Sweden and Finland cleared the way for the Nord Stream gas pipeline project aimed at linking Russia and Germany under the Baltic Sea.
Both countries after a lengthy assessment gave their permissions to have the pipeline, built by a Russian-German-Dutch consortium, run through their waters.
Denmark last month was the first of five affected countries to issue a permit; with Sweden and Finland following this week, only Russia and Germany have still to give their green light -- observers say that's but a formality.
"This is an important day for the Nord Stream project," Matthias Warnig, head of the Nord Stream consortium, said in a statement. "These two permits are further significant milestones for our project."
Nord Stream is a planned 758-mile natural gas pipeline directly linking Russia and Germany under the Baltic Sea, bypassing transit countries in Eastern and Central Europe. The $11 billion pipeline is designed to eventually deliver up to 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year, enough for around 25 million households.
Gazprom holds the majority with 51 percent, Germany's Wintershall and Eon Ruhrgas own 20 percent each with Dutch Gasunie holding the remaining 9 percent.
Nord Stream has been mentioned by the European Commission as a priority energy project but has run into opposition from individual European states, including Poland and the Baltic countries. Moreover, environmental concerns have delayed the permitting process.
The construction of Nord Stream is planned to begin in early 2010, with the first pipeline operational in 2011 and the second in 2012. Nord Stream says it has spent around $130 million on environmental studies and the permitting process.
Joachim Pfeiffer, energy policy spokesman of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, said the Swedish green light was good news for Europe's energy security. He noted dwindling domestic gas resources and rising demand.
"To ensure a secure, affordable and clean energy supply, Europe and Germany need several energy sources, transport routes and supply countries," he said in a statement. "Nord Stream boosts pipeline capacity and is thus an important energy security tool for Germany and Europe."
