The Finnish government last week approved the proposal for the construction of the 1,220 kilometre Nord Stream natural gas pipeline which will be routed across the country’s territorial waters. Read the full story

Nordic and Eastern European nations hoping to break free of Russia’s dominant position in gas supply were dealt a blow when Norway suspended its USD 1.5 billion Skanled gas pipeline project. Skanled would have delivered gas from the North Sea directly to Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and perhaps even Poland, bypassing the Russians, who control the regional gas market. Read the full story

A conference concerning the proposed Nord Stream gas pipeline will not have Sweden in attendance, according to a recent government decision. The move by Sweden came as a shock to the Russians, who are organising the conference in St Petersburg.

Yuri Lipatov, the head of the Russian Duma’s energy committee, admitted his colleagues were rather upset the Swedes had pulled out of the meeting. Karin Pilsater, the head of the Swedish parliament’s industry committee, claims their decision not to attend the conference is because they want to base the government’s position on the controversial Baltic Sea pipeline on environmental factors instead of political ones. Read the full story