Finland Gives Key Approval to NS2
Gazprom-owned pipeline project Nord Stream 2 (NS2) said April 5 it has received a permit to lay its pipe in Finland’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The second permit in the country is granted according to the Water Act and a decision is expected to be made within the next weeks.
Finland’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment also said it issued the permit April 5 for the 374 km section running through the Finnish EEZ. It further noted that Nord Stream 2 plans to lay the pipeline in 2018–2019 and have it operational at the beginning of 2020. The company usually talks of having the line built by end-2019.
The Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland is processing NS2’s application for a permit under Finland's Water Act, the ministry added.
"We are very pleased to have obtained this permit after an extensive and thorough permitting process. It marks yet another important milestone for the Nord Stream 2 project," said Tore Granskog, permitting manager in Finland for NS2. The company already received the necessary permits in Germany March 27. It has yet to secure final approvals in the other three countries along its route: Russia, Sweden and Denmark. The latter's foreign ministry has yet to decide on the basis of a new law whether to block NS2 from being laid in the Danish EEZ on the basis of foreign, security or defence considerations.
Gazprom plans to spend $2bn during 2018 on NS2, which has planned 55bn m3/yr capacity. That would represent an 11% increase on what it spent last year.