South Stream Transport Says No Re-routing of Offshore Pipeline Planned

Dutch-based South Stream Transport BV, a joint venture established for the planning, construction and operation of the offshore section of the South Stream gas pipeline through the Black Sea, said on Wednesday there are no plans to change the routе of the offshore pipeline.

Earlier this week, media reported three of the four offshore South Stream pipes might be reallocated to connect to Crimea instead of Bulgaria.

"The route of the South Stream Offshore Pipeline, connecting the shores of Anapa (Russia) to the shores of Varna (Bulgaria) and running through Turkey’s EEZ, was chosen after several years of detailed geological and geophysical surveys,” South Stream Transport said in a statement emailed to SeeNews the Corporate Wire.

Numerous surveys both onshore and deep underwater, as well as environmental impact assessments (EIAs) in Bulgaria, Turkey and Russia have been performed in relation to the pipeline project.

A re-routing of the entire pipeline is not done overnight, but would be an entirely new endeavor, the notice read.

Partners have already been awarded with the supply of some of the pipes for the South Stream project.

In March South Stream Transport said it signed contracts worth approximately 2.0 billion euro ($2.7 billion) with Italian company Saipem for construction works on the offshore section of the South Stream gas pipeline.

South Stream Transport B.V. is controlled by Gazprom, which holds a 50% stake, Italian group Eni with a 20% stake as well as French energy group EDF and German company Wintershall with 15% each.

Source: SeeNews