Parts had a meeting with the Russian-German gas pipeline developers

„It is regretful that it is only the very first meeting in this issue. It reflects the interest of the gas pipeline developers to develop contacts with the Estonian authorities,” said Juhan Parts, Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications.

The Minister noted that all alternative locations, including terrestrial ones, should be carefully considered before making any decisions on building the pipeline. Moreover, due assessment should be made of environmental impacts and other risks, such as a possible overlapping with ship routes, as well as security risks which until now have not been paid as much attention to as environmental risks, said Parts.

Parts insisted on the need of involving all the interested European Union member states in the project. „I cannot imagine how, at the beginning of the 21st century, it would be possible to develop a project to meet European needs, without involving all the interested EU member states,” said the Minister.

Representatives of Nord Stream promised to take the principal issues raised by Estonia into account while planning their future activities.

Representatives of the Ministry considered it necessary for Nord Stream to submit a request to initiate new studies if the company sees Estonian waters as an alternative location for the pipeline. „The company must explain their intentions in detail and Estonia must have an opportunity to thoroughly investigate the study plans,” noted Parts.

Nord Stream’s representatives at the meeting were: Matthias Warnig, Managing Direction, Dirk von Ameln, Deputy Technical Director, and  Sebastian Sass, Manager for the company’s operating licences in the Baltic countries and Finland. The Ministry’s representatives in addition to the Minister were: Andres Tint, Deputy Secretary General, and Einari Kisel, Head of the Energy Department.