Russia closes down South Stream pipeline project
Moscow was initially scheduled to launch the gas pipeline in 2018.
Russia is unable to continue realizing the project South Stream at the moment, President Vladimir Putin announced at a press conference in Ankara. He met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan there. Another pipeline will be built across the Black Sea towards Turkey soon.
Bulgaria has not allowed the construction so far and Russia cannot continue realizing the project in such conditions, Putin noted. “It is over, the project is closed,” BBC quotes Gazrpom CEO Aleksei Miller.
Moscow is going to enhance cooperation with Turkey in the gas sphere. Russia wants to build a pipeline similar to the South Stream across the Black Sea towards Turkey.
The new Bulgarian government decided to suspend the construction of the pipeline on the country’s territory. Italy also claimed that the South Stream was not a priority for it. Bulgaria will be receiving hundreds of millions dollars a year less due to its choice, Putin noted.
Photo: ria.ru
