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Balticconnector between Finland and Estonia and Nord Stream,
which goes from Russia to Germany, are the biggest Baltic
Sea natural-gas projects. Gasum, which is responsible for
the import, wholesale supply and transmission of natural gas,
is involved in both.
Gasum's own project, Balticconnector, has examined the linking
of gas grids in Finland and the Baltic States by means of
a pipeline built on the seabed of the Gulf of Finland. The
intention is to have the pipeline operating in 2014 at the
latest.
Balticconnector is the main development project among a group
of projects through which Gasum is endeavouring to ensure
the growth, competitiveness and reliability of Finland's natural
gas market.
"The pipeline in the Karelian Isthmus and the grid investment
carried out in the Baltic States will make it possible for
Finland to genuinely become part of the European energy market,"
emphasizes Antero Jännes, Gasum's CEO. "The
pipeline will open up a route to the gas storage facilities
in Latvia, improve reliability in supply and maintenance,
and provide an opportunity to start the import of liquefied
natural gas by ship."
Part of Nord Stream
Gasum is also negotiating with Gazprom, Russia's biggest
gas company, about the possibility of joining the German-Russian
Nord Stream pipeline joint venture project on the Karelian
Isthmus.
"In principle there has been a positive attitude towards
the idea. It is mainly a question of timing, technical concept
and commercial questions," says Jännes.
"Via Nord Stream the Finnish grid would be linked to
an extremely high-capacity gas transmission system, the reliability
of which in terms of supply would, it is thought, be at the
maximum level. With a rise in the pressure level of the gas
in the isthmus area, more could be got out of the capacity
in the Finnish grid."
Increased use of natural gas
In Finland about 11 per cent of all energy is produced by
natural gas. In 2006 about 33 per cent of the entire country's
district heating was produced by natural gas.
The environmental and logistical benefits of natural gas are
considerable. "Because increasing the use of natural
gas and reducing other fossil fuels will make it possible
to bring down carbon dioxide emissions, which are accelerating
the greenhouse phenomenon, we're expecting the use of natural
gas to rise in Finland in the next few years," Jännes
predicts.
More than 4.5 billion cubic metres of natural gas were used
in 2006. According to estimates, six billion cubic metres
will be used in 2015.
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Natural gas is a colourless, non-toxic natural
gas, almost half as light as air.
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The composition of natural gas varies depending
on the area from where it originates. Natural
gas coming to Finland from West Siberia is
extremely clean and even in quality. It contains
98% methane and the other 2% is ethane and
nitrogen.
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One cubic metre of natural gas is, in terms
of thermal value, the equivalent of one litre
of light fuel oil.
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Finland does not have its own natural gas
resources, but it is situated in the middle
of natural gas deposits.
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The world's present natural gas deposits
are concentrated mainly in Russia and the
Middle East. Russia has more than 48 billion
cubic metres of proven natural gas resources.
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The European Union accounts for 2.2 per cent
of the world's gas resources.
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At present consumption, there is expected
to be enough natural gas for 100 years.
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