Construction of the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline through the Gulf of Finland isn’t having a major impact on the environment, the Estonian government said.
Russia aims to diversify its European transit options through Nord Stream. The dual pipeline will run from the shores of the Gulf of Finland through the Baltic Sea to Germany.
Heidi Kaar, a specialist in marine systems for the Estonian Environment Ministry, was quoted by the regional news group Baltic Course as saying national studies on the pipeline found “no major disturbance took place in the Estonian economic zone sea environment.”
Construction on the Nord Stream pipeline started in April 2010 and it will pass through economic zones in Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany.
Environmental groups complained the dual pipeline would have negative consequences, though the consortium said its models indicate subsea work wouldn’t create environmental problems.
The pipeline consortium said the first line, which is 92 percent compete, should begin delivering gas to European customers later this year. The second line becomes operational in late 2012.
[mappress]
Source: upi , April 13, 2011; Image: yle