STOCKHOLM, November 30. /TASS/. Sweden is not ready to make a decision on laying the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in its economic zone, Lars Gronstedt, Senior Advisor for Nord Stream 2 AG in Sweden, told TASS.

"Earlier, we thought that the decision would be made before the end of the autumn. However, now I am more pessimistic about it. The Industry Ministry has sent the documents to the agencies engaged in the consideration for the third time and they should let their remarks and claims be heard before December 5. It is not clear when the ministry will be able to put forward its verdict," he said.

Nord Stream-2 AG first applied for laying the pipeline in the Swedish economic zone in September 2016. After that, the company sent additional documentation to answer the questions the Swedish party had.

Earlier Sweden’s Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom told TASS that Stockholm would be considering Nord Stream 2 AG’s application in compliance with international law and the country was also expecting a decision by the European Commission on that issue.

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is expected to come into service at the end of 2019. The pipeline is set to run from the Russian coast along the Baltic Sea bed to the German shore. Each of the pipeline’s two branches will have a capacity of 27.5 bln cubic meters. The new pipeline that is expected to connect the Russian resource base with European customers, will double the capacity of the first line and will follow its route. The cost of construction of the Nord Stream-2 is estimated at 9.5 billion euros. According to Gazprom estimates, Nord Stream-2 will allow it to transport 1,000 cubic meters of gas per 100 km for $2.1, which is 20% cheaper than the current tariff for transit via Ukraine.