The procurement process to construct the subsea part of the Balticconnector has begun

“The construction of the Balticconnector as well as the recently signed agreement to launch a Pan-Baltic gas exchange have the overall objective of creating the integrated Finnish-Baltic gas market by 2020. It would be unique in Europe as four European countries would be connected without any restrictions,” said Taavi Veskimägi, Elering’s CEO.

The construction procurement of the Balticconnector subsea pipeline includes seabed intervention, pipelay operation, landfall construction, pressure test of the pipeline and subsequent drying of the pipeline. According to the current plan, the procurement will be concluded by spring 2018. It is proposed that the gas connection will come into use in 2020.

Project promoters will procure the material for the Balticconnector subsea pipeline with another procurement. The contract notices were published in the information system of European procurements http://ted.europa.eu.

In addition to the subsea section, there will be procurements to construct the mainland pipeline of the connection and compressor stations in both Finland and Estonia. On the Estonian side, Elering will carry out the procurements to build the Killi-Paldiski onshore pipeline and the compression stations of Paldiski and Puiatu.

The 150 kilometre long Balticconnector gas pipeline starts near Kiili in Harjumaa, passes the town of Keila and enters the sea at Paldiski on the territory of the planned LNG terminal. In Finland, the gas pipeline reaches dry land at Inkoo and joins with the Finnish gas network in Siuntio.

The Balticconnector project is co-financed by the European Union.