Pipe concerns: Sweden and Finland question environmental impact of Nord Stream.
Nord Stream faces more questions
Nord Stream could face more delays after Sweden and Finland asked for further information regarding the planned gas pipeline's potential impact on the environment.
The Nord Stream consortium aims to have the twin pipeline up and running in 2011, bringing 55 billion cubic metres of Russian gas to Germany and further to other European Union countries each year across the Baltic seabed.
But the timetable came under threat after several Baltic countries expressed concerns that the pipeline could damage the environment including the fact that it would pass close to dumped World War 2 munitions.
Permits to build and operate the pipeline are needed from Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany.
Russia's Natural Resources Ministry said today that Russia, Denmark and Germany had said the project did not carry material risks for ecology at the latest round of consultations in Germany.
"The representatives of Sweden and Finland, in their turn, stressed the need to receive additional documents (on the ecological impact)," it added.
Nord Stream, which includes Russia's Gazprom, Germany's E.On and BASF and Dutch player Gasunie, said it still hoped the project would start on time.
"Nord Stream looks forward to further co-operation with the authorities to resolve outstanding issues over the summer, with a view to permits being granted before the end of 2009," it said.
"Construction of the 1220 kilometre pipeline is scheduled to start in early 2010," it said.