THE ROUTE of the Nord Stream gas pipeline from Russia to Germany has been modified, following environmental and others studies. The Swiss-based Nord Stream AG project operator has confirmed that the decision has been taken to route the pipeline to the south of Denmark’s Bornholm Island; initially, it was to pass the island on the north.
Last year, after controversy arose around the pipeline's route crossing the disputed Polish-Danish territory, and Warsaw's being an uncompromising adversary of the pipeline, another routeing was chosen, to the north of Bornholm. However, there was considerable criticism of this option by environmentalists who said it would be unsafe for navigation and the environment, arguing that disposals of chemical weapons were located north of Bornholm. The south option will circumnavigate all the disputed locations.
The company said that the new route option was called the 'S-route' due to its curved trajectory. It is a "result of careful assessment of many factors, such as security of navigation and environment," a company spokesman said. "The by-pass of the known locations where conventional and chemical weapons had been disposed of was the priority in our choice of route."
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