The referral replies to Nord Stream's updated application to construct two natural gas pipelines through the Baltic Sea have now been received by the Swedish Government. Nord Stream appreciates the referral authorities' expedient processing of the now completed administrative round. This procedure is a prevalent and important part of the Swedish authorisation process.

It represents a logical stage of the authorisation process, and it has become customary that all applications pursuant to Swedish national legislation (the Environmental Code) undergo an administrative round. That viewpoints be submitted by the referral authorities is the very intention of this procedure and of the following steps in the permitting process

Nord Stream has reviewed the referral replies from public authorities, and in three of them, including that of the Swedish Coast Guard, it is stated that the application documentation is complete, i.e. that no further information is required. Replies from other authorities contain the desire to see additions of varying magnitude. Nord Stream notes that the referral authorities have appreciated the work that the company has put into the process. Nord Stream will carefully consider each question and will then provide further information. It also looks forward with confidence to a continued dialogue in the spring with the general public, both in Sweden and in other countries around the Baltic Sea.

In addition to the important referral process, Nord Stream is also holding a dialogue with professional fishermen and other parties concerned. This dialogue, along with the referral process, represents important stages of the timetable established by Nord Stream for the project.

The natural gas pipeline is an important European project, and Nord Stream has carried out comprehensive environmental studies and planning, worth 100 million Euros, to find any opportunity to reduce and mitigate environmental impacts. The project contributes to Europe being able to achieve the stringent climate objectives. The viewpoints that the project received from the Government in the spring of 2008, as well as from the referral authorities during the administrative round, form a natural stage of an authorisation process – with the ultimate objective of the general public and the authorisation body having the most complete and extensive material on which to base their comments and respective decisions.

Nord Stream will now continue its dialogue with public authorities and related parties.