International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analyticsThursday, 02.09.2010, 22:48
Estonia: economic interests prevailed over the environment in the Nord Stream case
02.09.2010The Vaasa Administrative Court decided on Thursday not to grant the Estonian and Finnish environmental organisations’ challenge over the permits issued for building the Nord Stream gas pipe, writes LETA/Postimees Online.
Keyword tags: Ecology, Energy, Estonia, EU – Baltic States, Gas, Legislation, Transport
Port of Riga took part in the Transport and Logistics Exposition in Beijing
02.09.2010The Freeport of Riga Authority took part in the 3rd China Beijing International Logistics Expo 2010, which took place August 10–12.
Largest pipelay vessel starts laying Nord Stream in the Gulf of Finland
02.09.2010Allseas’ Solitaire, the world’s largest pipelay vessel, has started to lay the Gulf of Finland section of the 1,224 kilometre Nord Stream natural gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea. Nord Stream’s Deputy Director Construction Ruurd Hoekstra and Leo D. Varkevisser, Allseas’ Vice President Projects and Operations, arrived on board the Solitaire to confirm that everything is on schedule and “all systems go” for the start of construction. Before starting its journey to Russian waters, the Solitaire was adapted to Nord Stream’s requirements in Rotterdam, where each piece of equipment was thoroughly tested in port.
Estonian MFA found no evidence of its former diplomat having unlawfully issued visas
02.09.2010Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs completed on Wednesday the internal investigation on former charge d’affaires in Belarus Harry Lahtein and found no confirmation to allegations as if he had unlawfully issued visas, writes LETA/Postimees Online.
Freeport of Riga launches the access channel deepening project
02.09.2010Elaboration of the draft design for the ship access channel reconstruction has begun. The project aims at deepening and widening of the Port of Riga harbour entrance access channels, in order to provide secure services to vessels with maximum length of 260 m, beam up to 48 m, and draft up to 15 m.
Finland’s Vaasa Administrative Court decision rejects appeals on the water permit for Nord Stream
Finland’s Vaasa Administrative Court has ruled on the appeals made against the Water Permit in Finland. According to the Court decision, the three appeals against the decision of the Finnish permit authority to grant the Water Permit concerning Nord Stream have been rejected.
Estonian Air starts selling tickets on intercontinental flights
Tickets for intercontinental flights to some of the biggest cities in the world in addition to 180 destinations in Europe, can be purchased from the Estonian Air homepage starting September 1, Estonian Air reports.
Freight carried by rail in Latvia decreased by 10.3%, by road increased by 32.4% in H1
25.3 mln tons of freight were carried by rail (Latvijas Dzelzcels) in Latvia in the 1st half of 2010, a decrease of 10.3% compared to 1st half of the previous year, according to the Central Statistical Bureau. In the 1st half of 2010 freight transport by road has reached 20.5 mln tons of freights, and it is 32.4% more if compared to the 1st half of 2009.
Turnover of Ventspils nafta at LVL 29 mln and losses at LVL 0.6 mln in H1
The turnover of the joint-stock oil company Ventspils nafta in the first half-year of 2010 reached LVL 29 million, according to a statement published on the NASDAQ OMX Riga stock exchange. The consolidated net turnover of Ventspils nafta in the first half-year of 2010 reached LVL 29 million. The Ventspils nafta parent company's net profit reached LVL 3.5 million for the 6 month period in 2010, excluding foreign exchange gain from the revaluation of assets.
airBaltic recognised as Latvia’s leading exporter
Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis and Economics Minister Artis Kampars last week hailed the airBaltic airline for its achievements in the field of exports, informed BC Janis Vanags, vice president of corporate communications at airBaltic.
Sillamäe ecologist calls for increased air pollution control
The chief ecologist for Sillamäe, an industrial city of 16,000 on the north coast of Estonia, has called for the installation of two monitoring stations for continious check of air pollution levels at the city's port.
Latvian Transport Minister walks out of "TV5" studio on-air
Transport Minister Kaspars Gerhards (TB/LNNK) yesterday walked out of the "TV5" studio live on air after being denied the opportunity to speak Latvian on the show "Bez cenzuras", LETA was informed by the minister's advisor Inga Sprinke. According to Sprinke, Gerhards harshly criticized "the actions of TV5".
Import of timber from Russia to Estonia has fallen 70 times
Due to export tariffs levied by Russia and railway transport problems in the Eastern direction, the import of round timber from Russia to Estonia has fallen by 70 times in recent years, LETA/Postimees Online reports.
Orlen Lietuva incurs 42 mln dollars loss in H1
Unfavourable macroeconomic conditions and tendencies on the market, the still unsettled logistic issues as well as the Refinery shut-down in March have had material effect on the Company's performance and financial results. The income gained by Public Company Orlen Lietuva during the first half of the year 2010 amounted to USD 2.5 billion. The more favourable macroeconomic conditions in the second quarter and the actions undertaken to make the Company's performance more efficient enabled the achievement of higher financial results during the particular period. Nevertheless, this was not enough to compensate for the loss incurred during the first quarter.
Construction company BMGS turnover grew by 13% in 2009
The joint-stock construction company BMGS registered LVL 60.8 million in consolidated turnover in 2009, according to information from the Register of Enterprises provided by the company Lursoft. This is 13% more than in 2008, when the concern had a turnover of LVL 53.8 million.
Updating the Nordic-Baltic cooperation 
