Balticconnector mission

Balticconnector is the new vision of interconnecting the gas markets around northern Baltic Sea. It will link the Finnish, Estonian and Latvian natural gas grids. Balticconnector will enable two-way gas flows between Finland and Estonia and provide lot of more gas supply capacity and flexibility for the whole region. It makes possible to utilize the underground gas storage potential in Latvia more effectively to meet the needs of customers of the area.

The principal gas network companies of the region, led by Gasum Oy, are carrying out feasibility studies for this new transmission system. It comprises construction of an offshore gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia, compressor stations on both landfalls and connecting onshore pipelines to the existing gas grids.

Balticconnector studies

Balticconnector study falls in to the priority projects of the Trans-European Energy Network (TEN-E) program and it is partly funded by the program. The feasibility study comprises technical concepts, sea bottom surveys and environmental studies. The study project started in 2005 and it will be completed in the end of 2009. 

Several landfall alternatives both in Finland and Estonia have been studied as well as various offshore pipeline routes in the bottom of the Finnish Gulf. Technical concept studies of the offshore pipeline were carried out in 2005-2006. Sea bottom survey campaign for selected pipeline routes has been implemented and the results show typical construction conditions for the offshore pipeline, requiring just conventional pipe-lay technology.

The study project continues with environmental focus until end the 2009. A full scale environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure will be carried out, concentrating in to the offshore section of the project. 

Additional information:
Project Manager Seppo Nurminen, Gasum Oy
firstname.lastname@gasum.fi