The Finnish government gave its consent for the construction and operation of the Nord Stream II natural gas pipeline project for the section that passes trough Finland's exclusive economic zone, the government announced on Thursday.
The Nord Stream II project will be a twin subsea gas pipeline, running for about 1,220 kilometers through the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany and for about 374 kilometers across Finland’s exclusive economic zone.
In September 2017, the project developer company Nord Stream II AG submitted an application for governmental consent under the Finnish Act on the Exclusive Economic Zone.
'The government’s consent is conditional, which means the applicant has to meet the terms presented in the government’s decision,' the government stipulated.
The Finnish government’s consent must be enforceable despite any appeal, unless the appellate authority specifies otherwise.
The consent will be valid for 50 years, after which it can be renewed upon application.
The Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland is processing the Nord Stream II’s application for a permit under the Water Act for the construction and operation of the pipeline.
The processing of the construction permit application will include a detailed environmental impact assessment pursuant to the Water Act.
The Nord Stream II pipeline will be laid in 2018–2019 and will be operational at the beginning of 2020.
By Murat Temizer
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr