The Russian-German consortium with plans to build a gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea had to present more options for its location, a Swedish environmental agency said Friday.

The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency said it wanted the consortium Nord Stream to present alternative routes for the 1,200- kilometre pipeline that was slated to be built off the Swedish island of Gotland, 90 kilometers from the mainland.

More detailed studies of the ecological impact of the pipeline and construction work on migrating birds and fishing banks as well as the risk of disturbing munitions and chemical weapons dumped after World War II were also needed, the agency said.

The project has been questioned by members of the Social Democratic opposition and military analysts. Among concerns mentioned was that the military balance in the region could be affected since Russia, which owns a majority stake in the company, has said it would need to increase its naval surveillance of the gas pipeline.

Opinions also appear to differ within the Swedish government. Swedish radio reported Friday that the Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications had drafted a memo stating that Sweden was not obliged to approve the project, contrary to statements by Foreign Minister Carl Bildt.

Bildt, who has been under fire for cashing in stock options after serving on the board of a company with interests in the Russian oil and gas industry, earlier this week said the gas pipeline was part of European Union efforts to improve energy security.

He also criticized the former Swedish government for not raising concerns at an earlier stage.

Sweden is not dependent on Russian energy exports, but critics of the project have noted that Moscow has at times used energy as a means to gain political leverage, citing the example of Ukraine.

Copyright 2007 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH

Related Project
Nord Stream Pipeline
Facility Type: Pipeline Owner: Nord Stream AG
Scope: New Construction Location: Vyborg, Russia to Greifswald, Germany Russian Federation