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Government gives consent to Baltic Connector Oy construction project

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
Publication date 21.6.2017 13.21
Press release

On 21 June 2017, the Government gave its conditional consent to Baltic Connector Oy’s natural gas pipeline construction project in respect of the section that passes through Finland’s exclusive economic zone.

The consent is conditional, which means the applicant has to meet the terms presented in the Government’s decision. The party responsible for implementing the project must comply with the general principle of prudence in preventing and minimising accidents and damage, must take due account of other existing projects in the exclusive economic zone and must meet the terms of the construction permit required under the Water Act.

The project’s environmental effects will be assessed in detail as part of the construction permit process under the Water Act now initiated.

The Government’s consent must be enforceable despite any appeal, unless the appellate authority specifies otherwise. The consent will be valid for 55 years, after which it can be renewed upon application.

Baltic Connector Oy is a wholly state-owned company. Its purpose is to construct a natural gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia in order to widen the range of gas distribution routes, improve the security of supply for Finland and the Baltic Sea region, and promote integration in the gas market.

The natural gas pipeline will consist of three parts: 22 kilometres in Finland, 80 kilometres under the Baltic Sea from Inkoo in Finland to Paldiski in Estonia, and 50 kilometres in Estonia. At sea, the pipeline will run through the exclusive economic zones and territorial seas of Finland and Estonia. The pipeline inauguration is scheduled for the latter part of 2019.

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

 
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