The first batch of pipes for the Bulgarian section of the South Stream gas pipeline has been delivered by German company Eurotype to the Port of Varna.

A total of four parallel lines are to be put on the Black Sea seabed, each of which requires over 75 000 pipes. The sea section of the pipeline spans 931 km.

The offshore section of the South Stream gas pipeline consists of four parallel lines across the Black Sea from the Russian coast to Bulgaria's Port Varna. Each line will be made up of over 75 thousand 12-meter pipes.

The pipes are to be stored at the warehouses of port facilities until the launch of construction works, and after that they will be put on a special pipe-laying vessel, according to 24 Hours daily.

The offshore pipeline laying will begin will start at the region of Anapa on the Russian Black Sea coast, crossing Turkey's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea to reach an area near the Pasha Dere beach near Bulgaria's Varna.

Turkish authorities have approved the offshore section of the gas pipeline.

Turkey approved an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA Report) stating that the pipeline was expected to have no significant impact on the marine environment or fisheries in the Turkish section.

Former Bulgarian Regional Development Minister Desislava Terzieva issued a construction permit for the gas pipeline in the region of Pasha Dere.

However, the permit is being appealed at the Supreme Administrative Court (VAS).

The 12 complaints filed to VAS concern both the substance of the construction permit and its preliminary execution.