You're reading: Motuzas: Lithuania sees Nord Stream 2 as potential threat to environment

MOSCOW – Lithuania doubts that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project meets all international requirements and standards and sees it as a potential threat to the environment of the Baltic Sea, Lithuanian Ambassador in Moscow Remigijus Motuzas said in an interview with Interfax.

“We are not sure today that the ‘Stream’ will meet all international requirements and norms, including environmental ones,” he said.

“As for the start of public hearings on the Nord Stream 2 project, I have heard that they are expected to take place, but concrete measures on holding them are being discussed so far,” he said.

The Nord Stream 2 project “also poses a potential threat to the environment of the Baltic Sea and the countries adjacent to it,” the ambassador said.

“The Baltic Sea is very small, land-locked and heavily polluted. The bottom of the Baltic Sea has held a large number of chemical weapons dumpsites since World War II. We fear that these dumpsites may be damaged during the work to build the Nord Stream 2, and this could lead to an ecological catastrophe,” he said.