Nov 5, 2009, 9:20 GMT
Stockholm - Sweden on Thursday granted a permit to the Nord Stream international consortium to bring natural gas from Russia to Germany via an underwater pipeline under the Baltic Sea.
Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren announced the decision after a cabinet meeting.
In total 480 kilometres of the 1,200-kilometre-long pipeline through the Baltic Sea will pass through the Swedish economic zone, east of the Swedish island of Gotland, Carlgren said.
Factors considered in the decision included effects on bird breeding areas, fisheries, the location of chemical munitions dumps, and shipping, the minister said saying safeguards were in place.
The pipeline is envisaged to run from Vyborg in Russia to Greifswald, Germany.
The decision was taken after 'a tough environmental assessment,' Carlgren said at a news conference, citing a 23-month review of the application and consultations with the Nord Stream consortium.
'No serious Swedish government would violate international treaties by saying no to the gas pipleine,' Carlgren said.
Sweden took into account its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea that allows other states to lay down pipelines on international waters.
No Swedish authorities had recommended stopping the project, and would closely monitor it, he said.
Denmark in October gave similar approval. Finland, German and Russia have yet to announce their decisions.
Partners in the consortium include Russian gas monopoly Gazprom, German energy companies E.ON, BASF/Wintershall and Dutch company Gasunie.
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