Challenge to Nord Stream rejected

ZUG, Switzerland, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Appeals challenging a permit to build the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline in Finnish waters were rejected, the pipeline consortium said Thursday.

The Finnish government in February issued its final permit for the gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea, paving the way for a 2011 launch.

Construction for Nord Stream started April 9 in the Swedish waters of the Baltic Sea when operators placed the first 2 miles of the pipeline on the sea floor. Engineers pulled the first section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline onto the German shore in July and the first section reached Russian shores later that month.

A court in Finland rejected challenges from environmental groups from Estonia and Finland to challenge the permits, the consortium said.

Environmental groups had worried about the environmental impact of the pipeline construction, which is complicated by munitions left over from World War II strewn along the sea floor.

Waters within about 2 miles of vessels laying the pipeline are closed. All activity conforms to Finnish environmental standards, the consortium said.

Moscow aims to diversify its gas transit options by moving gas through the dual Nord Stream pipelines through the Baltic Sea to Germany.

The first pipeline for Nord Stream is scheduled for operation as early as next year. The entire project could move more than 1.9 trillion cubic feet of gas to European markets when both pipelines enter service in 2012.