Following authorisation from Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Gazprom has decided to fast-track the South Stream gas pipeline project.
Construction will now begin as early as December 2012 instead of in 2013 as originally planned.
Chairman of Gazprom's Management Committee Alexey Miller said “We have everything in place to significantly expedite the previously announced date of the South Stream construction launch. We have a regulatory basis, great interest of the project participants in Europe, the required funds, and the unique track record of delivering large-scale gas transmission projects offshore. The project is in great demand, people are looking forward to it and we are ready to launch it.”
The South Stream construction schedule developed by Gazprom will be submitted to the South Stream Transport Board of Directors this month.
The Gazprom Information Directorate told Pipelines International that the project's expected in-service date will be before the end of 2015.
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The proposed South Stream gas pipeline will include a 900 km offshore section across the Black Sea from the Beregovaya compressor station on Russia’s southwest coast to the Bulgarian coast. From Bulgaria the pipeline will transport up to 63 Bcm/a of natural gas to south and central Europe.
Image caption: Route options for the South Stream pipeline project.
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