The government on Wednesday gave its conditional consent to Baltic Connector Oy’s natural gas pipeline construction project in respect of the section that passes through Finland’s exclusive economic zone.

The consent is conditional, which means the applicant has to meet the terms presented in the government’s decision, said a government press release.

The party responsible for implementing the project must comply with the general principle of prudence in preventing and minimising accidents and damage, must take due account of other existing projects in the exclusive economic zone and must meet the terms of the construction permit required under the Water Act.

The project’s environmental effects will be assessed in detail as part of the construction permit process under the Water Act now initiated.

The government’s consent must be enforceable despite any appeal, unless the appellate authority specifies otherwise. The consent will be valid for 55 years, after which it can be renewed upon application.

“Receiving the formal consent in the government plenary session to construct the pipeline is yet another step forward. The project has major social significance, and it is important that the construction project proceeds on schedule,” said Herkko Plit, President and CEO of Baltic Connector Oy.

Baltic Connector Oy is a wholly state-owned company. Its purpose is to construct a natural gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia in order to widen the range of gas distribution routes, improve the security of supply for Finland and the Baltic Sea region, and promote integration in the gas market.

The natural gas pipeline will consist of three parts: 22 kilometres in Finland, 80 kilometres under the Baltic Sea from Inkoo in Finland to Paldiski in Estonia, and 50 kilometres in Estonia.

At sea, the pipeline will run through the exclusive economic zones and territorial seas of Finland and Estonia. The pipeline inauguration is scheduled for the latter part of 2019.