Sweden Approves Nord Stream 2 Russia to Germany Gas Pipeline

Russia’s natural gas pipeline to Europe moved another step ahead as Sweden granted permission for construction the 9.5 billion-euro ($11.2 billion) project in its part of the Baltic Sea.

“National and international law doesn’t allow Sweden to reject the application” Swedish Enterprise Minister Mikael Damberg said at a June 7 press conference in Stockholm, brushing aside U.S. pleas to halt the Nord Stream 2 link sponsored by Russia’s Gazprom PJSC.

The move makes it almost inevitable that—barring U.S. sanctions—the pipeline will be built. That would expand the quantity of gas that flows from Russia directly into Germany ...