The Nord Stream project, to pipe gas from Siberia to Europe under the Baltic Sea, is absolutely reliable and environmentally safe, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Wednesday.

"I am sure that Nord Stream will become an environmentally safe, reliable and continuous route for hydrocarbon supplies to Europe, enhancing the energy stability of the European continent as a whole," he said.

Putin is in Helsinki taking part in the Baltic Sea Action Summit (BSAS) and discussing bilateral cooperation with Finnish, Lithuanian, Danish and Norwegian top officials.

He added that environmental security had been a priority for the project from day one.

The Russian head of government said some 100 million euros had been spent on environmental impact assessment in an area of over 40,000 square kilometers.

"The project has always been open and transparent to the maximum degree possible," he said.

The pipeline will pass through the waters of five countries, all of which have given approval.

Russian energy monopoly Gazprom has signed long-term contracts to supply gas through Nord Stream to customers in several EU countries including Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Britain.

According to Nord Stream AG, a joint venture established in 2005 with the purpose of carrying out a feasibility study and building the pipeline, Nord Stream "is fully committed to preserving the Baltic Sea environment."

"The pipeline will be built with proven and environmentally sound technology. It is planned with profound awareness of environmental issues and conditions of the Baltic Sea."

HELSINKI, February 10 (RIA Novosti)