Fears that the project has hit a standstill emerged a few weeks ago when Gasum announced that negotiations between Finland, Estonia and the European Union had ended inconclusively.

The Finnish importer and supplier of natural gas blamed the collapse of the talks on the reluctance of the European Union to support the project sufficiently. The union has pledged to subsidise the project if Finland and Estonia are able to reach an agreement on the joint LNG terminal.

Vapaavuori, however, says that the project yet again has the wind in its sails. “There is a willingness to increase the energy self-sufficiency and independence of the EU, and so a project such as this, which could provide access to an alternative gas source, has gained support within the EU,” the Minister of Economic Affairs says.

Heikki Arola – HS

Aleksi Teivainen – HT

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Photo: Martti Kainulainen / Lehtikuva