The Swedish and Finnish governments have granted permits to Nord Stream to use Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) for a pipeline through the Baltic Sea.
Offshore staff
ZUG, Switzerland -- The Swedish and Finnish governments have granted permits to Nord Stream to use Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) for a pipeline through the Baltic Sea. The 1,223-km (760-mi) natural gas pipeline, planned to transport natural gas from Russia to the European Union, will pass through 506 km (314 mi) and 374 km (232 mi) of the Swedish and Finnish EEZs, respectively.
The permitting process is also under way in Russia and Germany, the two other countries through which the pipeline passes. In addition to EEZ permits, the company also needs a water permit for construction in Finland. Nord Stream aims to obtain all required permits by year-end.
Pipeline construction is planned to start in 1Q 2010, with the first pipeline operational in 2011 and the second in 2012.
