STOCKHOLM, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Nord Stream-2, the companyplanning to boost the supply of Russian natural gas to Germany,started a process aimed at gaining official approval for its1,200-km pipeline on Friday, saying it had submitted a permitapplication to Sweden.
Russia's Gazprom and its European partners agreedthe Nord Stream-2 project last year, but critics say it couldlimit supply routes and the energy security of the EuropeanUnion, which gets a third of its gas from Russia.
"Permit applications in the four other relevantjurisdictions - Russia, Finland, Denmark and Germany - areplanned to be submitted early 2017," Nord Stream-2 said in astatement.
The Swedish government said the application would be subjectto consultation and that Sweden would discuss the pipeline withits Baltic neighbours.
During a recent visit to Sweden, U.S. Vice President JoeBiden called the planned pipeline, which would stretch acrossthe Baltic, a "bad deal" for Europe.
European politicians, such as European Commission PresidentJean-Claude Juncker, have also expressed scepticism about NordStream-2, in which Gazprom is partnered by E.ON,Wintershall, Shell, OMV and Engie.
Gazprom's gas routes to Europe have become increasinglypoliticised following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 androle in the Ukraine crisis.
Half of the gas the EU imports from Gazprom is pumped viaUkraine. Nord Stream-2 would sideline the country as a gastransit route, depriving it of billions of dollars in fees.
Nord Stream-2, due to open in 2019, should double the amountof gas directly shipped from Russia to Germany. (Reporting by Simon Johnson; Editing by Dale Hudson)
