Ruhrgas Project Manager Franz-Josef Kissing said “The planning documents will be laid open for public inspection in the relevant administrative districts along the pipeline route for a period of four weeks.”

The 435 km pipeline will carry natural gas from Lubmin on the Baltic Sea, through Lower Saxony to Rehden, where it will connect with existing transmission networks.

The company said that the pipeline may source approximately 20 Bcm/a of natural gas from the proposed Nord Stream Pipeline.

The NEL Pipeline was granted regional planning approval by the Lower Saxony Regional Development Minister, who said that “The gas pipeline route presented is in line with the principles and objectives of regional planning and development taking due account of the environmental protection requirements, and the plans and measures impacting on spatial structures of the planning agencies affected.”