OREANDA-NEWS. December 18, 2012. Nord Stream AG has been informed that the Estonian Government has decided not to grant a permit to conduct a survey in Estonian exclusive economic zone waters (EEZ). Nord Stream is yet to review the legal reasons for such a refusal which will only be possible after receiving an official notification from the Estonian Government.

At the end of August 2012 Nord Stream AG submitted a request for a survey permit in the Estonian EEZ. This was part of a broader feasibility study that shareholders mandated the company to carry out for assessing the feasibility of building one or two additional pipelines from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea. Such applications were submitted in all relevant countries. The aim of the survey was to further research the route corridor options, and later, based on this research determine where it would be best to apply for a construction permit. The main objective is to find the most optimal routing for the pipelines with minimum length and with minimum impact on the environment.

Nord Stream fully respects today's decision to refuse a survey permit in Estonia. This means that no survey will be conducted and consequently there will be no opportunity to build any part of the pipelines in the Estonian EEZ.

Nord Stream AG will now concentrate on developing further the Finnish route alternative in the Gulf of Finland.

There is a broad range of issues that will nevertheless have to be addressed in Estonia, including assessing the transboundary environmental impacts, dealing with the possibly affected communities such as fisherman, maintaining the dialogue with the environmental NGOs, ensuring the necessary information flow for maritime navigation and safety, etc. Nord Stream AG will continue the dialogue with the Estonian authorities and various stakeholders in a co-operative, open and transparent manner, based on the already well-established practices during the development of Nord Stream Lines 1 and 2.