Denmark gives go ahead to Baltic Pipe construction to Poland
The Baltic Pipe, a project to supply Norwegian gas to Poland, has received its first approval from the Danish government, while Copenhagen is delaying giving consent to the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency announced on its website that it has authorized the construction of the Baltic Pipe.
The Danish gas transit operator Energinet now needs to obtain authorization from the 13 municipalities whose territory the land-based portion of the pipe will pass through. The pipeline also requires permission from the Danish Energy Agency for its submarine section in Danish waters.
The Baltic Pipe has been given its first green light, while for several years already Denmark has been withholding its approval for the laying of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in its territorial waters. The Nord Stream 2 operating company has already filed three applications, but to prolong the process, the Danish government has passed a special law requiring that such applications be approved by the Foreign Ministry.
The Baltic Pipe project was initiated 20 years ago. It has now been advanced thanks to the approval of a new €215 million EU grant in addition to the previously issued €51.8 million. The gas pipeline is designed to have a capacity of 10 billion cubic meters. Construction is expected to begin in 2020 and be completed by October 2022. This will coincide with the end of Poland’s long-term contract with the Russian gas monopoly, Gazprom.