Norwegian pipeline to offset controversial northern one?

However, E.ON Ruhrgas has links to Russian Gazprom and the company which will build the controversial northern pipeline, that will bypass Poland and which the Polish government believes is a potential threat to national energy security. "We regard this project as a pure business venture and we are convinced that our partners in the consortium will also regard it in this way," said PGNiG spokesperson Tomasz Fill. He went on to say that PGNiG does not fear that the Norwegian pipeline might become engulfed in potential political problems. "We are negotiating the contract. We want to secure the interest of PGNiG in the consortium on the best possible terms," said Fill. The company would not reveal any details, but according to sources it will control a stake larger than the one owned by E.ON Ruhrgas. The new pipeline would become operational by 2012, but a decision concerning its construction is unlikely before 2009. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 8) M.M.