Russia’s Gazprom to build pipeline, power plant in CroatiaJanuary 17, 2013 - 19:18 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Gazprom, Russia’s natural-gas export monopoly, intends to build a pipeline to Croatia and a power plant in the country to maintain its market for the fuel, Bloomberg reported. The gas link, to be developed with local partner Plinacro d.o.o., will branch off from Russia’s planned South Stream pipeline, Gazprom Deputy Chief Executive Officer Alexander Medvedev said today in Zagreb, capital of the Balkan country. “We intend not only to supply gas, but also to develop the gas market, and one of the ways is to build gas-powered electric plants,” Medvedev said. Gazprom plans to add pipes and power stations in Europe to keep market share in the continent as slowing economic growth curbs demand and competition for customers increases. The Moscow-based producer has largely relied on piped fuel even as global output of liquefied natural gas expands. Gazprom and Plinacro will build a connector with capacity to carry 2.7 billion cubic meters a year, Mladen Antunovic, head of Plinacro, said in an interview. The pipeline, costing an estimated 60 million euros ($80 million) to build, may start operating in December 2016, he said. Gazprom, the world’s biggest gas producer, and partners Eni SpA (ENI), Wintershall AG and Electricite de France SA, started work last month on the South Stream pipe, which will run from Russia under the Black Sea to eastern and southern Europe. The project is scheduled to start delivering gas at the end of 2015 and reach capacity of 63 billion cubic meters a year in 2019. Gazprom’s plans to build a power station in Croatia may focus on Osijek, in the east of the country, Medvedev said. The company would construct a 500-megawatt plant in cooperation with local utility Hrvatska Elektropriveda DD, he said. 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 | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |