Russia’s pipeline grid inching closer to Finnish border
The Russian natural gas company Gazprom will stretch its national pipeline grid to several Karelian towns located along the border to Finland.
Gazprom CEO Aleksey Miller confirms that towns and villages along the border to Finland will be linked up with the company’s pipeline grid. In a meeting with Head of Karelia Artur Parfenchikov, the Gazprom leader said that his company this year will spend 1.45 billion rubles (€19 million) on the construction of a pipeline to the town of Pitkäranta and nearby settlements.
In addition, the company will continue to plan for the laying of a pipeline to Kostomuksha. That pipeline will be connected also with the towns of Sortavala, Pudozh and Lakhdenpokhja, Gazprom informs.
The natural gas company has over the last 10 years invested more 9.6 billion rubles in the development of pipeline infrastructure in Karelia. The republic still remains among the Russian regions with the least access to natural gas. Less than seven percent of the regional population live in houses connected with the gas grid.
None of the new pipelines will cross the border to Finland. There is one cross-border gas pipeline between the countries. That runs south of Karelia, from the town of Vyborg and into the Nordic country.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: World maritime body moves to ban dirty fuels in the Arctic, Radio Canada International
China: Can Barents region become a superhub on China’s Arctic Silk Road?, The Independent Barents Observer
Finland: In crisis, would Finland’s supplies be safe on Arctic rail near Russian border?, YLE News
Norway: Bad prospects may slow down Statoil in Norway’s Barents, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Arctic infrastructure: Moscow runs dry, companies step in, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Arctic winds: construction start for Europe’s biggest wind park, The Independent Barents Observer
United States: Washington urged to cancel offshore plans in Arctic, Alaska Public Radio Network
