The power cable between Lithuania and Sweden, known as NordBalt, will be the third-longest submarine link in the world.

The Cabinet's approval opens the way for applying for a building permit and starting preparatory construction work, the prime minister's press office said.

Vidmantas Bezaras, the director of the Protected Areas and Landscape Department at the Environment Ministry, has told BNS that NordBalt will have no negative impact on the environment of the coastal area.

The installation of the 450-kilometer 700-megawatt cable between Lithuania and Sweden is planned to begin in March 2014. The 520-million-euro NordBalt interconnection is expected to be completed by December 2015. ABB is manufacturing and will install the cable for the power link under a 270-million-euro contract.

NordBalt is one of Lithuania's strategic energy projects.