Baltic States – CIS, Energy, Estonia, EU – Baltic States, Gas, Legislation, Transport

At the meeting of representatives of the Estonian Nature Foundation (ENF) and Nord Stream, Nord Stream could not answer several important questions about the effects of the existing and planned gas pipelines on the environment of the Baltic Sea, ENF said.

"The state of the Baltic Sea is critical and additional endangering of it is not acceptable," ENF sea environment and nature protection expert Alex Lotman said. He added that Nord Stream has not been able to show, despite the environmental studies conducted so far, how much pollution and dangerous chemicals are really released into the Baltic Sea from the sediments in the bottom of the sea. "We did not reach that answer this time either," said Lotman.

ENF is on the position that building new gas pipelines contradicts the need to curb global climate problems, for which consumption of fossil fuels has to be reduced.

Nature protectors consider it necessary, that in case a Nord Stream research permit is issued for the Estonian waters, implementation of the studies has to be entrusted to Estonian scientists and academic institutions involved in marine studies, who have the best possible information about the Estonian seas.

At the end of the meeting, where several other environmental organisations besides ENF participated, it was agreed that Nord Stream would look for answers to the questions ENF raised and consultations between the environmental organisations and Nord Stream will be continued.