Sweden and Lithuania do not accept planned routing of gas pipeline

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Sweden and Lithuania have both taken a negative stand with regard to the planned routing of the Baltic Sea gas pipeline from Russia to Germany. The authorities in both countries encourage the constructor of the pipeline, the Russian-German company Nordstream, to investigate further routing possibilities, including an overground option.
      According to the news agency Reuters, the environmental authorities in Sweden have called for looking into alternative routing possibilities as well as the option of not undertaking the gas pipeline project at all. The Swedes urge Nordstream to move the pipeline away from environmentally sensitive areas.
      Further clarification on the pipeline's effects on the sea bed is also insisted on, including looking into the possible displacement of toxic materials in the sea bed caused by the laying of the pipeline.
     
The Lithuanian Ministry of the Environment also warns of a possible ecological catastrophe that may be caused when disturbing the explosives left on the sea bed from World War II, Reuters reports. "In our opinion there should be discussion of alternatives. There cannot be just one possible routing option", the ministry's representative Aleksandras Spruogis told Reuters.
      One option could be an overground pipeline.
     
Nordstream have called for opinions on the subject elsewhere as well. Those giving statements have voiced their concern, for example, over the effects of storms on the pipeline as well as how the pipeline will be dismantled one day.
      The 1,200-kilometre, EUR five billion pipeline is planned to run from Vyborg in Russia under the Baltic Sea to Greifswald in Germany. The Gazprom-led Nordstream hopes the pipeline will be in operation within three years, delivering 27.5 billion cubic metres of gas from Russia to the European market.
      A parallel sister pipe, constructed at a later date, would double the capacity.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Parliamentary Committee notes Russian military activity in Baltic (8.2.2007)
  Environmental impact of Baltic Sea pipeline greatest in building phase (15.11.2006)

Helsingin Sanomat