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

Nord Stream's adviser in the Baltic States Romans Baumanis confirmed that installing the double pipeline in the Estonian waters is one of the options that the company considers. Currently the feasibility study is under way. "If the decision is made that routes passing though Estonian economic waters want to be used, we will turn to the Estonian authorities," he added.

A source of Postimees noted that the government's lead politicians have discussed the subject and most likely, Nord Stream will not encounter major obstacles in its path anymore.

The source of Postimees confirmed that using the Estonian economic waters is one factor in the separation of gas grids initiated by the government: the government gets what it wants by forcing Eesti Gaas to sell its main grid; the owner of Eesti Gaas, Gazprom gets what it wants by placing the next pipelines of Nord Stream in the Estonian economic zone. The Riigikogu approved of a law that obliges Eesti Gaas to sell its main grid in two years to a company not connected to any gas sellers. The management of Eesti Gaas protests against it, E.on Ruhrgas and Fortum, who are among Eesti Gaas owners, also sent a protest letter. The reaction of the Russian Gazprom, the biggest owner of Eesti Gaas, has so far been invisible tough.

Prime Minister Andrus Ansip answered yesterday in the Riigikogu questions related to Nord Stream and asked by Centre Party MPs. "We can say that the management of Nord Stream is more open and ready for dialogue than during the previous experience," Ansip said in the Riigikogu, repeating that the environmental effects of the gas pipeline have turned out to be smaller than feared.