Moscow : OAO Gazprom, the world's largest natural-gas producer, won its final permit to build a $10 billion (Dh36 billion) pipeline to Germany, its first direct link to western Europe.
A Finnish regional agency yesterday approved Nord Stream AG's construction of the pipeline under the Baltic Sea, with gas shipments planned to start next year. The Zug, Switzerland-based venture with Wintershall AG, E.ON Ruhrgas AG and Nederlandse Gasunie NV, earlier secured other permits from Finland, Russia, Germany, Sweden and Denmark.
Baltic Sea countries voiced concern over the pipeline's environmental impact.
