Russia Ready to Launch South Stream Gas Line Project

If the study works turn out successful, the construction of the "South Stream" gas line can begin as early as next year.

The information was stated for reporters in the Moldovan capilat Chisinau by the Russian Emery Minister, Sergey Shmatko, who took part in a meeting of the Electric Energy Council of the Comonwealth of Independent States (CIS) – the regional organization of several former Soviet Republics.

Shmatko, cited by the Russian information agency ITAR-TASS, has reminded the media that he held talks two days ago in Moscow with his Bulgarian counterpart, Traicho Traikov, adding Turkey already granted permission for tests and probes of the underwater part of the line.

“We pointed out during a meeting with representatives of Italy and Turkey in Milan that we are prepared to realize the project with maximum speed. We can start as early as 2010. “South Stream” does not have an alternative other than being built,’ Shmatko is quoted as saying.

When asked about arguments and rivalry regarding “South Stream” and “Nabucco” the Russian Minister said: “Europe has interest in having a maximum number of transit routes in order to guarantee its markets’ security.”

On his part, Traikov concluded Friday that the faster the South Stream project starts the better, adding that both Nabucco and the South Stream pipelines will pass through Bulgaria and that both were discussed with Shmatko.