South Stream gas pipeline construction to launch Dec 2012 January 20, 2012 - 18:32 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Construction of the South Stream gas pipeline to carry Russian natural gas under the Black Sea to Europe will start in December 2012, and not 2013 as previously planned, gas export monopoly Gazprom said on Friday, January 20. The Russian company will present a construction plan for the project to the board of directors of the pipeline's operator, South Stream Transport AG, this February. Implementation of the project was speeded up by order of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin last December. Putin demanded the underwater phase of the project to begin by the end of 2012, according to RIA Novosti. "Gazprom has everything to considerably advance the previously announced start date for South Stream construction. We have an international legal framework, the huge interest of all participants of the project in Europe, the necessary financial resources and unique experience in implementing large-scale sea gas transportation projects," Gazprom quoted CEO Alexei Miller as saying. The South Stream pipeline is designed to transport up to 63 billion cubic meters of gas to central and southern Europe, diversifying Russian gas routes away from transit countries such as Ukraine. Russia plans to launch South Stream in 2015. Last December Turkey gave Russia the final permission needed to build the pipeline.   Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot".   Partner news |  Latest news Russia sends note of protest to Armenia over envoy’s trip to Ukraine’s Bucha  Russia has sent a note of protest to Armenia over the visit of Vladimir Karapetyan and Tigran Ter-Margaryan to Bucha.Armenia: Protesters march to parliament, some spend the night on street The protesters did not disperse despite heavy rain that began at around 2 a.m. local time.Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte.Pashinyan visits flood-hit region Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, June 8 visited the disaster area in the Lori province. |
