Germany gives green light to Nord Stream project

MOSCOW. December 22. KAZINFORM. Nord Stream Company has received Germany's permission to build a 50-kilometer stretch of the 1,223-kilometre pipeline in its territorial waters to Lubmin not far from Greifswald; Kazinform refers to Itar-Tass.
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Another permit should be issued in the next few weeks for the construction of a 31-kilometre section of the gas pipeline in Germany's exclusive economic zone and a second permit from Finland.

Nord Stream Company has already obtained the permission of other countries through which the pipeline will run - Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. "We have held detailed consultations on all aspects of the proposed project in order to ensure reliability and environmental safety of the Nord Stream gas pipeline. And such close cooperation will continue throughout the project," Nord Stream Managing Director Matthias Warnig said on Monday.

The permission for the construction of the pipeline in Germany's territorial waters became a result of a large-scale three-year environment survey.

Once completed, the pipeline will be able to supply 55 billon cubic metres of gas a year from Russia to Germany where it will be connected to the European gas system.

Russia's Gazprom has already signed long-term contracts for the supply of gas by the Nord Stream pipeline to consumers in several EU countries, including Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Franc, and Britain, the Prime-Tass business news agency reported.

Nord Stream is a 1,220-kilometre-long offshore natural gas pipeline stretching through the Baltic Sea, from Vyborg, Russia to Greifswald, Germany, which is to be built by Nord Stream AG. Nord Stream is a joint project of four major companies: Gazprom, BASF/Wintershall Holding AG, E.ON Ruhrgas AG and N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie. Such a powerful consortium is a guarantee of the best technology, security and corporate governance.

In Russia, a 917-kilometre-long onshore connection is being built by Gazprom, to connect Nord Stream to the Russian gas transportation system.

Two onshore extensions from Greifswald to the south and west of Germany with a total length of 850 kilometres will be built by WINGAS and E.ON Ruhrgas.

Based on the multiyear comprehensive analysis of technical, environmental and economic aspects and factors of the European energy supply security, the sea route is an optimal solution for the construction of a new pipeline carrying gas to Europe; Kazinform cites Itar-Tass. See www.itar-tass.com for full version.

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