The offshore South Stream gas pipeline section will not have a substantial impact on the environment and the socio-economic sphere in the region of Bulgaria's Varna.

The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report was prepared by international experts from URS Infrastructure and Environment UK Limited.

The experts were involved in two parallel processes, namely, assessing the environmental impact in accordance with national legislation, and evaluating the impact on the social environment in accordance with the guidelines and standards of international funding entities.

Under the ESIA report, the project will not have a substantial impact on the environment.

The report provides estimates of the impact on the cultural heritage in the area of Varna and examines the social and economic aspects of the project.

Under the report, which takes stock of the impact of the gas pipeline project on the local population and the vulnerable groups in the region, the scheme is to bring temporary benefits as a result of the extra job opportunities and the increased demand for products and services during the construction works.

The report also lists mitigating and protective measures which are to guarantee the lack of negative impact on the environment.

The South Stream Transport company reminds that the report includes the results of a series of public discussions on a wide range of environmental and social aspects of the project.

South Stream Transport invites all interested parties to acquaint themselves with the preliminary report and provide feedback by e-mail or by post.

The draft report is available online as of July 29, 2014 and hard copies are available at the offices of South Stream Transport in Sofia and a number of information centers in Varna and nearby villages.

South Stream Transport is yet to hold consultations with NGOs and local organizations on the ESIA report.

Locals have been invited to attend the open consultative meetings in Varna and the region.

The schedule of the meetings is available online.

The offshore section of the South Stream gas pipeline is 931km long, starting from the Russkaya compressor station on the Russian Black Sea coast, crossing Turkey's Exclusive Economic Zone and surfacing near Bulgaria's Varna.