Finnish EIA completed for Nord Stream 2 pipeline

“We are pleased that the coordinating authority acknowledges the EIA report to be sufficient and have declared the EIA procedure completed. We will now evaluate the statement in detail and provide the additional required information as we move on to the permitting phase in Finland. We are dedicated to constructing the pipeline in a way that is as safe and environmentally friendly as possible,” said Nord Stream 2 AG Permitting Manager Finland, Tore Granskog.

According to the Finnish legislation, the aim of the EIA procedure is to assess the environmental impacts of the project, to ensure that there is consistent information available for the planning and decision making phase, to provide information for the general public and to provide an opportunity to participate in the process. The co-ordinating authority’s statement will be taken into account in the Finnish permitting procedure.

Part of the 1200 km route of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is planned to run through the Gulf of Finland in the Finnish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Two permits are required for construction of the pipeline in the Finnish EEZ: the Government’s Consent for the use of the Finnish EEZ and a permit for the construction and operation of the pipeline.

Nord Stream 2 AG plans to submit the permit applications in September 2017 and estimates to receive the respective decisions during the first quarter of 2018. The project is progressing according to schedule.