In Estonia, critics said a small gas-distribution terminal wouldn’t serve the Baltic country’s interests.  “It is in the interests of Estonia to build a regional LNG terminal, not set up a small terminal that would make the gas more expensive for consumers and be pointless to our economic environment,” Marko Mihkelson, a member of the conservative opposition IRL party, wrote on his official Facebook account.  Gasum Oy, the Finnish gas company in charge of developing the project together with Estonia’s Võrguteenus, said the new agreement will help move the project forward but the final outcome still hinges on the availability of sufficient financial support.  The Finnish government said efforts are being made to secure substantial European Union funding for the projects. The total cost of the projects are estimated to be close to €500 million ($623 million) and the countries hope the EU will cover about 75% of the €200 million pipeline and a yet-to-be decided portion of the terminals’ cost, said Lauri Tierala, special adviser on EU Affairs for the Finnish government. Gasum said a final decision by the EU on the pipeline funding is expected this spring.

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