Gazprom, Slovenia sign deal to stretch South Stream pipelineNovember 13, 2012 - 14:19 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian energy giant Gazprom and Slovenia have signed a final deal to build the Slovenian stretch of the South Stream gas pipeline, Gazprom said in a statement on Tuesday, Nov 13, according to RIA Novosti. The deal was signed by Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and Slovenia’s Plinovodi d.o.o. General Director Marjan Eberlinc in the presence of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Gazprom has previously signed similar deals with Hungary and Serbia. The South Stream pipeline will transport up to 63 billion cubic meters of natural gas to central and southern Europe along the Black Sea seabed, diversifying Russian gas routes away from transit countries such as Ukraine. Following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s instruction, Gazprom has accelerated the South Stream pipeline's construction schedule, with work now to begin before the end of 2012. The pipeline’s commercial deliveries of natural gas to Europe are expected to start in the first quarter of 2016 and the project is set to reach its designed capacity of 63 billion cu m in 2018. The project’s cost, including the pipeline’s overland sections, is estimated at $16 billion. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Armenia, Turkey discuss restoration of historic bridge The meeting took place on May 17 in Ashgabat on the sidelines of an international conference of ministers of culture. EU welcomes Armenia-Azerbaijan “progress” The EU has welcomed “progress” made in the framework of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation process. Belarus opposition leader slams Lukashenko for Karabakh trip Belarusian opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has harshly criticized the visit of Lukashenko to Karabakh. Mkhitaryan raises arrest of former Karabakh leaders in Azerbaijan Inter Milan star Henrikh Mkhitaryan has shared a news story about the extension of the arrest of former Karabakh leaders. |