MOSCOW (Commodity Online) : Russia on Tuesday said it will increase volume of natural gas deliveries to Denmark via the Nord Stream pipeline to 3 billion cubic meters a year.

Speaking to reporters here Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said currently Denmark is guaranteed 1 bcm as a minimum.



The Nord Stream pipeline, which will carry gas from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea, bypassing Poland, Belarus and Ukraine, is being built jointly by Russia's Gazprom, Germany's E.ON Ruhrgas and BASF-Wintershall, and Dutch gas transportation firm Gasunie with an estimated price tag of $12 billion.

On October 20, Denmark became the first country to approve the pipeline's route. The Danish Energy Authority issued Nord Stream AG, the Nord Stream operator, a license for the pipeline to pass across Denmark's territorial waters (87.7 km) and its exclusive economic zone (49.9 km).

Putin said the decision had helped improve relations between Russia and Denmark, adding that it was an example of a balanced, non-politicized approach toward energy issues.

His remark was an indirect jab at Estonia, whose parliament on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the possible environmental fallout from the Nord Stream and said it should not be allowed to go ahead.

The pipeline will not pass through Estonia, so it has no direct say in the project, but it can present its point of view to transit countries.

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