Baltic Connector Oy gets research permit for Finland’s exclusive economic zone in connection with gas pipeline

On 29 September 2016, the Government gave its conditional consent to Baltic Connector Oy to perform seabed research within Finland’s exclusive economic zone for the purposes of the Balticconnector gas pipeline project. The consent remains valid until 31 December 2017.

The Government issued an earlier research permit for the project in 2013. The environmental impact assessment procedure (EIA) was concluded in 2015. There is a need to conduct new subsea research along the planned route of the gas pipeline to ensure sufficient coverage of the pipeline route. The aim of the research is to determine the best solutions for the pipeline location in technical, economic and environmental terms.

The Balticconnector gas pipeline is intended to connect the natural gas pipeline networks of Finland and Estonia. The length of the planned subsea pipeline is approximately 81 kilometres. The pipeline would be located in the Gulf of Finland, within the exclusive economic zones of Finland and Estonia and in their territorial seas. The pipeline landfall would be at Inkoo and at Paldiski.

Finland’s exclusive economic zone is not part of the territory of the State of Finland, but, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, forms part of international waters in which any party is free to lay submarine cables and pipelines.

Construction of the pipeline in Finland’s exclusive economic zone will, in due course, require the Government’s consent (decision in principle) regarding economic exploitation and an action permit under the Water Act.

Inquiries:
Johanna Ylitepsa, Senior Officer, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 506 4207