Poland balks on Nord Stream

WARSAW, Poland, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- The Nord Stream natural gas pipeline should lay more than 6 feet below the floor of the Baltic Sea in order to avoid shipping damage, Polish officials said.

Russia includes Nord Stream, as well as its South Stream project, as part of a plan to diversify the regional energy sector. Sweden and Finland announced their backing for Nord Stream construction recently, clearing the way for the construction of the dual pipeline through the Baltic Sea.

Mikolaj Budzanowski, the Polish deputy treasury minister, demanded Nord Stream be constructed more than 6 feet below the sea floor at the port of Swinoujscie in order to avoid damage from ships, Russia's ITAR-Tass reports.

He said port access would be restricted without the consideration.

"We have the full right to express our position. Besides, there is also the maritime law that does not allow restricting access to the port," he said. "Our position will not change."

The report said Poland has put up several roadblocks to Nord Stream. Danuta Huebner, a European lawmaker and Polish economist, recently expressed frustration that the Polish or European governments were not consulted on the project.

Nord Stream would bring Russian gas through the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea to European countries. It could bring more than 970 billion cubic feet of Russian gas to Europe per year by as early as 2011.