Russian Gazprom on Monday signed an agreement for the construction of the Bulgarian section of its South Stream gas pipeline with Bulgaria's National Energy Holdings.
Gazprom Deputy CEO Alexander Medvedev told reporters in Sofia that the pipeline will be operational in 2015, with construction of its underwater section scheduled to be launched in December 2012, earlier than planned. Construction of the Bulgarian section will begin next year.
The South Stream pipeline hopes to transport up to 63 billion cubic meters of natural gas to central and southern Europe.
The pipeline will run from Russia to Bulgaria via the Black Sea, splitting into branches in Bulgaria, one traversing Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria and Italy, the other going through Greece and Italy.
By. Charles Kennedy of Oilprice.com
Charles is a writer for Oilprice.com More