Nord Stream's Contribution to the EU and the Baltic Sea States
The Nord Stream natural gas pipeline is key infrastructure which will bolster the European Union's energy security for at least 50 years. It will soon be ready to contribute to the EU's energy security, and to meeting its climate change goals.
Whereas other major gas infrastructure projects are still only in the planning phase, Europe has the security of the privately-financed Nord Stream project providing a fixed link between the European gas grid and some of the world's largest gas reserves in Russia from November 2011 when Line 1 of the 1,224-kilometre twin pipeline system became operational.
A Safe Supply of Energy for Europe
Nord Stream provides an additional northern route to supply 55 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas to the EU annually, helping the EU to improve its energy security by diversifying its gas supply routes. The twin pipelines will help meet a large part of the expected gas shortfall of between 211 and 232 bcm a year by 2030, being capable of transporting enough gas to supply 26 million households in Europe.
Nord Stream is providing this key energy infrastructure at no cost to European taxpayers: the consortium's five shareholders are providing 30 percent of the 7.4 billion euro investment, with commercial loans from over 30 international banks providing 70 percent.
In the planning phase, Nord Stream set new standards of transparency and international environmental collaboration on transboundary environmental impacts under the Espoo process. Nord Stream brought together all nine Baltic Sea states in one of the most complex international environmental consultations ever undertaken. Before construction and operational permits were granted, Nord Stream's meticulous plans were reviewed and agreed with the authorities of all five countries through whose waters it would pass.
Contributing to Europe's Climate Protection Goals
The Nord Stream Pipeline is a safe and environmentally responsible way of linking the EU energy grid directly to some of the world's largest natural gas reserves in Russia. The secure supply of 55 bcm of natural gas through Nord Stream will help the EU to meet its CO2 targets, and act as a bridge to a future of greater use of renewable energy sources.
Nord Stream invested 100 million euros in the most comprehensive research of the Baltic Sea ever in planning the pipeline and consulted widely to ensure that the design, routing, construction and operation of the pipeline would be safe and environmentally sound. The company is investing a further 40 million euros through 2016 in comprehensive environmental monitoring to guarantee that the environment is not adversely affected throughout the construction phase, and during operations until 2016. The data gathered provide important information to future research projects studying the Baltic Sea environment and will be shared with non-governmental organisations and national authorities.
During comprehensive seabed studies performed by Nord Stream to define the route of the pipelines, roughly 60 wrecks were located. Nord Stream aids preservation efforts by sharing its findings with national authorities, and also by supporting Heritage Underwater – Maritime Archaeology, which explores wrecks and artefacts around the Island of Gotland, Sweden.
Significant Investments in the EU and Baltic Sea States
Investments of more than 100 million euros in the infrastructure of the ports involved in the Nord Stream project were the basis for its green, sustainable logistics concept.
The five harbours used during the project are all part of a strategy of short transportation routes. This concept of short trips, along with environmentally-friendly transport by ship and train saved roughly 200,000 tonnes of CO2 when compared with other options. In 2010, Nord Stream received the prestigious German Logistics Award from the German Logistics Association for its green logistics concept.
Given a project budget of 7.4 billion euros and associated investments, Nord Stream is generating business and safeguarding or creating jobs in 11 European countries.
