ANAPA, Russia, December 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
Russian President Vladimir Putin
marks the start of the South Stream Project at celebrations in
Anapa
Russian President Vladimir Putin
marked the start of the South Stream Project today, through a
symbolic welding ceremony during celebrations near Anapa, on the
Russian coast of the Black Sea.
(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121207/582377 )
The event, named "South Stream - Welding the Partnership",
celebrates the Russian-European cooperation that forms the
foundation of the Project and marks the start of its
implementation. In the past months, the most significant
arrangements for both the offshore and onshore sections were
concluded, such as the Final Investment Decision (FID) taken in
November 2012 and the set-up of joint
ventures for each section of the Project.
Russian President Vladimir Putin
said that the occasion marked a truly important event for both
Russia and Europe and he thanked and congratulated the
partners involved in the South Stream Project. He noted that the
pipeline will be built in accordance with strict environmental
standards.
Attendees also included Russian Minister of Energy Alexander Novak, Turkish Minister of Energy and
Natural Resources Taner Yıldız, Bulgarian Minister of Regional
Development and Public Works Lilyana Pavlova Nikolova, Hungarian
Minister of National Development Zsuzsa Németh, Serbian Minister of
Energy, Development and Environmental Protection Zorana Mihajlović,
Slovenian Minister of Infrastructure and Spatial Planning Zvonko
Černač and Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Zoran Stavreski. Other high-level
officials and ambassadors from the countries involved in the South
Stream Project were also present.
First Gas in 2015
The CEO of South Stream Transport B.V. Marcel Kramer underlined
the merit of the cooperation: "Last month, our Shareholders agreed
to take the Final Investment Decision for the South Stream Offshore
Pipeline, confirming our objective to transport the first gas by
late 2015. During times of economic uncertainty, this is a
significant investment in reliable supplies of clean energy and in
the European economy. To bring new energy into Europe in every sense of the word."
Alexey Miller, Chairman of the
Gazprom Management Committee, said: "The start-up of South Stream
construction - is indeed a historical event. The project embodies
the intention of Russia and the
countries of Southern and Central
Europe to strengthen the partnership in the energy sector
and to create a new reliable system of Russian gas supplies to
European consumers. South Stream is a comprehensive infrastructure
project that will provide a powerful impetus to economies of
participating countries."
The South Stream Pipeline Project consists of several sections,
spanning over 2,300 kilometers in total. It will transport natural
gas directly from Russia to
countries in Central and South-Eastern Europe. The 925-kilometre
offshore section will start on the Russian Black Sea shore in the
area of Anapa, cross the Turkish Exclusive Economic Zone in the
Black Sea and land on the Bulgarian coast near Varna.
Contact:
Sebastian Sass, Head of
Communications & Spokesperson, South Stream Transport
E-mail: media@south-stream-transport.com
Phone: +41(41)769-23-66
For further information, please
visit: http://www.south-stream-offshore.com.