South Stream

The South Stream pipeline project was announced on 23 June 2007, when the CEO Paolo Scaroni of the Italian energy company Eni and the Vice-Chairman Alexander Medvedev of the Russian Gazprom signed a memorandum of understanding in Rome for the construction of the pipeline.{{cite news |url = http://www.energypublisher.com/article.asp?id=10031 |title = Eni and Gazprom sign gas pipeline accord for EU |publisher = Energy Publisher |date = 2007-06-23 |access-date = 2007-06-26 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928181649/http://www.energypublisher.com/article.asp?id=10031 |archive-date = 28 September 2007 |df = dmy-all}} On 22 November 2007, Gazprom and Eni signed in Moscow an agreement on establishing a joint project company for the commissioning of the marketing and technical feasibility studies of the project.{{cite news | url = http://www.scandoil.com/moxie-bm2/news/eni-and-gazprom-sign-the-agreement-for-the-south-s.shtml | title= Eni and Gazprom sign the agreement for the South Stream Project | newspaper=Scandinavian Oil-Gas Magazine | date=2007-11-23 | access-date=2008-02-24}}

The preliminary agreement between Russia and Bulgaria on Bulgaria's participation in the project was signed on 18 January 2008. It was agreed to set up an equally owned company to build and operate the Bulgarian section of the pipeline.

{{cite news

|publisher = AGI News

|url = http://www.agi.it/business/news/200801181526-ene-ren0051-art.html

|title = Eni: Agreement Russia and Bulgaria on South Stream

|date = 2008-01-18

|access-date = 2008-01-18

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://archive.today/20090113140648/http://www.agi.it/business/news/200801181526-ene-ren0051-art.html

|archive-date = 13 January 2009

|df = dmy-all

}}

The agreement was ratified by Bulgarian Parliament on 25 July 2008.

{{cite news

| work = Novinite

| url= Bulgaria Parliament Ratifies South Stream Gas Pipeline Agreement

| title= Bulgarian Parliament Ratifies South Stream Deal

| date=2008-07-25

| access-date=2018-11-04}}

The first agreement between Russia and Serbia was signed even before the announcement of the South Stream project. On 20 December 2006, Gazprom and the Serbian state-owned gas company Srbijagas agreed to conduct a study on building a gas pipeline running from Bulgaria to Serbia.

{{cite news

| newspaper = Upstream Online

| publisher = NHST Media Group

| url=http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article125148.ece

| title= Serbia signs up for gas pipe study

| date=2006-12-20

| access-date=2008-02-26

| url-access=subscription}}

On 25 January 2008, Russia and Serbia signed an agreement to route a northern line of South Stream through Serbia and to create a joint company to build the Serbian section of the pipeline and a gas storage facility near Banatski Dvor.

{{cite news

| url= http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKL2515142420080125?sp=true

| archive-url= https://archive.today/20130104185216/http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKL2515142420080125?sp=true

| url-status= dead

| archive-date= 4 January 2013

| title=Serbia signs strategic energy deal with Russia

| work = Reuters

| date=2008-01-25

| access-date=2008-01-25}}

{{cite news

| url= http://twocircles.net/2008feb25/russia_serbia_sign_gas_pipeline_deal.html

| title=Russia, Serbia Sign Gas Pipeline Deal

| agency = RIA Novosti

| date=2008-02-25

| access-date=2018-11-04}}

On the same day, Russia and Hungary agreed to set up an equally owned joint company to build and operate the Hungarian section.

{{cite news

| url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKL2530997220080225

| archive-url = https://archive.today/20120715145616/http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKL2530997220080225

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 15 July 2012

| title = Russia wins Hungary for South Stream gas project

| first1 = Oleg | last1 = Shchedrov

| first2 = Dmitry | last2 = Solovyov

| work = Reuters

| date = 2008-02-25

| access-date = 2008-02-25}}

On 29 April 2008, Russia and Greece signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in construction and operation of the Greek section.

{{cite news

| url= http://www.downstreamtoday.com/news/article.aspx?a_id=10495

| title=Russia, Greece Sign South Stream Deal

| publisher=Downstream Today

| agency = Xinhua

| date=2008-04-29

| access-date=2008-05-10}}

On 15 May 2009, in Sochi, in presence of the Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin and the Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi, the gas companies of Russia, Italy, Bulgaria, Serbia and Greece signed an agreement on construction of South Stream.

{{cite news

| url= http://uk.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUKTRE54E1ZL20090515?sp=true

| archive-url= https://archive.today/20130201132603/http://uk.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUKTRE54E1ZL20090515?sp=true

| url-status= dead

| archive-date= 1 February 2013

| title= Russia seeks to speed up South Stream with new deals

| first = Dmitry | last = Zhdannikov

| work = Reuters

| date=2009-05-15

| access-date=2009-05-16}}

{{cite news

| url= http://paper.standartnews.com/en/article.php?d=2009-05-16&article=27520

| title= South Stream Flows out of Sochi with New Pipes Cutting through Bulgaria

| newspaper= Standart

| date= 2009-05-15

| access-date= 2009-05-16

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110716123117/http://paper.standartnews.com/en/article.php?d=2009-05-16&article=27520

| archive-date= 16 July 2011

| url-status= dead

| df= dmy-all

}}

On 6 August 2009, Russian Prime Minister Putin and the Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in presence the Italian premiere Berlusconi, signed a protocol routing the pipeline through the Turkish territorial waters.

{{cite news

| url= https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601100&sid=a.TM4QijmIMk

| title= Turkey Offers Route for Gazprom's South Stream Gas Pipeline

| author= Lyubov Pronina, Ali Berat Meric

| agency = Bloomberg

| date= 6 August 2009

| access-date= 6 August 2009}}

On 14 November 2009, followed the talks between Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor and Russia's Putin, the agreement to run a part of the pipeline through Slovenia to Northern Italy was signed by Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko and Slovenian Economy Minister Matej Lahovnik in Moscow.

{{cite news

| work = Reuters

| url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKL941099920091109

| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130201122915/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKL941099920091109

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 1 February 2013

| title= Slovenia to sign South Stream deal on Saturday

| author = Marja Novak

| date=2009-11-09

| access-date=2009-11-09}}

{{cite news

| agency = Bloomberg

| url = https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aKJI8Ras.5l8

| title= Russia, Slovenia Sign South Stream Gas Pipe Accord

| author = Stephen Bierman, Anna Shiryaevskaya

| date=2009-11-14

| access-date=2009-11-14}}

As per the earlier 2008 agreement between the two countries, on 17 November 2009, Russian Gazprom and Serbian Srbijagas created South Stream Serbia AG in Bern, Switzerland. The joint company was responsible for designing, financing, construction and operation of the Serbia section.

{{cite press release

| publisher=Gazprom

| url = http://www.gazprom.com/press/news/2009/november/article71282/

| title= Gazprom and Srbijagas Create South Stream Serbia AG Joint Venture

| date=2009-11-17

| access-date=2009-11-18}}

On 2 March 2010, Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko and Croatian Economy, Labor and Entrepreneurship Minister Djuro Popijac in the presence of the Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of Croatia Jadranka Kosor signed an agreement on linking Croatia with South Stream.

{{cite news

| work = Reuters

| url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE6211TR20100302

| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130201070911/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE6211TR20100302

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 1 February 2013

| title= Slovenia to sign South Stream deal on Saturday

| first1 = Dasha |last1 = Korsunskaya

| first2 = Vladimir | last2 = Soldatkin

| date=2010-03-02

| access-date=2010-03-03}}

{{cite news

| newspaper =The Moscow Times

| url = http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/croatia-agrees-to-join-south-stream/400828.html

| title= Croatia Agrees to Join South Stream

| author = Anatoly Medetsky

| date=2010-03-02

| access-date=2010-03-03}}

On 19 June 2010, Gazprom, Eni, and Électricité de France published a joint press release confirming that EDF will join the project.

{{cite news

| url= http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE65I0DV20100619

| archive-url= https://archive.today/20130201121841/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE65I0DV20100619

| url-status= dead

| archive-date= 1 February 2013

| title = France's EDF to get South Stream stake from ENI

| last = Soldatkin | first = Vladimir

| work = Reuters

| date = 2010-06-19

| access-date = 2010-07-07}}

On 21 March 2011, Slovenia and Russia signed an agreement regarding the establishment of a joint venture South Stream Slovenia.

{{cite news

|url=http://24ur.com/novice/gospodarstvo/uresnicuje-se-projekt-juzni-tok.html

|title=Sporazum o Južnem toku je podpisan

|publisher=MMC RTV Slovenia

|trans-title=The agreement on South Stream has been signed

|language=sl

|date=22 March 2011

|access-date = 2011-10-14}}

The joint venture South Stream AG, equally owned by Gazprom and Eni, was registered on 18 January 2008 in Switzerland.

{{cite news

| work=Forbes

| url = https://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/01/18/afx4548113.html

| title= Eni, Gazprom set up company for South Stream gas pipeline

| date=2008-01-18

| access-date=2008-02-24

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604004138/http://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2008/01/18/afx4548113.html

|archive-date=2011-06-04

|url-status = dead}}

However, on 16 September 2011, a shareholders' agreement was signed between Gazprom, Eni, Électricité de France and Wintershall to establish the new project company South Stream Transport AG for the Black Sea section of the pipeline.

{{cite news

| newspaper=The Wall Street Journal

| url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111903927204576574182325712222

| title= Companies Sign South Stream Deal

| first = Jacob | last = Gronholt-Pedersen

| date=2011-09-16

| access-date=2011-09-16}}

The company was incorporated on 3 October 2011 in Zug, Switzerland.

On December 28, 2011 Turkey issued its final agreement for allowing the pipeline to pass through its territorial waters.

{{cite news

|url=http://kommersant.ru/doc/1847418

|script-title=ru:Турция впустила "Южный поток"

|trans-title=Turkey allowed the South Stream in

|newspaper=Kommersant

|first=Anna |last = Rozova

|date=2011-12-28

|access-date=2011-12-28

|language = ru}}

{{cite news

|url = http://www.sundayszaman.com/sunday/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=269869

|archive-url = https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20111221071105mp_/http://www.sundayszaman.com/sunday/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId%3D264653

|url-status = dead

|archive-date = 21 December 2011

|title = Turkey and Russia develop strategic alliance

|newspaper = Today's Zaman

|first = Faruk

|last = Akkan

|date = 2012-01-29

|access-date = 2012-02-20

}}

The final investment decision for the Serbian section was signed on 29 October 2012, for the Hungarian section on 2 November 2012, for the Slovenian section on 13 November 2012, and for the Bulgarian section on 15 November 2012.

{{cite press release

|url= http://www.gazprom.com/press/news/2012/october/article147239/

|title= Gazprom and Serbia sign final investment decision on South Stream

|publisher= Gazprom

|date=2012-10-29

|access-date=2012-11-17}}

{{cite news

|url= http://www.euro-petrole.com/final-investment-decision-approved-for-south-stream-in-hungary-n-i-6739

|title= Final investment decision approved for South Stream in Hungary

|publisher= Europétrole

|date=2012-11-02

|access-date=2012-11-17}}

{{cite news

|url= http://rbth.ru/articles/2012/11/13/final_investment_decision_made_for_south_stream_in_slovenia_20050.html

|title= Final investment decision made for South Stream in Slovenia

|newspaper= Russia Behind The Headlines

|agency = Interfax

|date=2012-11-13

|access-date=2012-11-17}}

On 15 November 2012, shareholders of South Stream Transport AG signed the final investment decision on the offshore section.

{{cite news

|url= http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/NaturalGas/8916177

|title= Russia, Bulgaria sign final investment decision on South Stream gas pipeline

|work=Platts

|first= Nadia |last = Rodova

|date=2012-11-15

|access-date=2012-11-17}}

The ground-breaking ceremony marking start of construction of the Russian onshore facilities was held on 7 December 2012 at the Russkaya compressor station near Anapa.

{{cite news

| publisher = The Jamestown Foundation

| newspaper = Eurasia Daily Monitor

| first = Margarita | last = Assenova

| url = http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=40126&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=7&cHash=49f127243ffb0e34deeed7bd143eaf44

| title= EU and US Policy on South Stream Remains Ambiguous

| date=2012-11-16

| access-date=2012-11-17}}

On 25 July 2013, the Vice Premier Republic of Macedonia Zoran Stavreski signed the agreement on linking section through Republic of Macedonia with South Stream.

{{cite news

| newspaper = Balkan Insight

| url = http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/south-stream-halt-will-not-affect-macedonia

| title= Macedonia Shrugs Over Halt to South Stream Pipeline

| agency= BIRN

| date=2014-06-10

| access-date=2014-06-24}}

In March and April 2014, the contracts for laying the first and second lines of the offshore section were awarded to Saipem and Allseas.

{{cite news

| url = http://www.offshore-mag.com/articles/2014/03/saipem-clinches-first-phase-south-stream-offshore-pipelay.html

| title= Saipem clinches first-phase South Stream offshore pipelay

| work = Offshore Magazine

| publisher = Pennwell Corporation

| date=2014-03-18

| access-date=2014-06-24}}

{{cite news

| url = http://pipelinesinternational.com/news/south_stream_returning_to_austria/087177/

| title= South Stream returning to Austria

| work = Pipeline International

| date=2014-05-08

| access-date=2014-06-24}}

Contracts for the third and fourth line were to be signed in December 2014 and January 2015.

On 17 April 2014, amid Russia's annexation of Crimea, the European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution opposing the South Stream gas pipeline and recommending a search for alternative sources of gas supplies for the European Union.

{{cite news

| work = Novinite

| url = http://www.novinite.com/articles/159923/MEPs+Oppose+South+Stream,+Seek+Sanctions+against+Russian+Energy+Firms

| title= MEPs Oppose South Stream, Seek Sanctions against Russian Energy Firms

| date=2014-04-17

| access-date=2014-06-24}}

On 29 April 2014 a memorandum on the implementation of the Austrian section was signed in Moscow. Commissioning of the Austrian section is scheduled by January 2018.

{{cite news

| url = http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/gazprom-lures-austria-south-stream-branch-301846

| title = Gazprom lures Austria with South Stream branch

| date = 30 April 2014

| work = EurActiv

| access-date = 30 April 2014}}

In June 2014, Bulgaria temporarily stopped construction due to the European Commission's infringement procedure against Bulgaria for non-compliance with European rules on energy competition public procurements.

{{cite news

| url = http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/austria-pleads-south-stream-pipeline-303010

| title = Austria pleads for South Stream pipeline

| date = 2014-06-24

| work = EurActiv

| access-date = 2014-06-24}}

In April 2014, Russia filed a complaint at the World Trade Organization against the European Union's energy market laws that were enacted in 2009, claiming that they violate international rules. These laws ban suppliers from owning transit facilities such as gas pipelines, and would force Gazprom to allow third-party gas producers to use the South Stream pipeline.

{{cite news

| url=https://news.yahoo.com/russia-challenges-eu-energy-market-rules-122212581--finance.html

| title=Russia challenges EU energy market rules

| agency = Associated Press

| date= 1 May 2014

| publisher=Yahoo News

| access-date= 2 May 2014}}

On 1 December 2014, during a state visit to Turkey, president Putin announced that Russia was withdrawing from the project, blaming international sanctions and lack of construction permits in the territory of the European Union.

{{cite news

| work = BBC News

| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30283571

| title= Russia drops South Stream gas pipeline plan

| date=2014-12-01

| access-date=2014-12-01}}

Russia has started to build a pipeline through Turkey known as Turkish Stream.{{cite news|last1=Reed|first1=Stanley|last2=Arsu|first2=Sebnem|title=Russia Presses Ahead With Plan for Gas Pipeline to Turkey|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/22/business/international/russia-presses-ahead-with-plan-for-gas-pipeline-to-turkey.html?mabReward=A3|access-date=23 January 2015|work=New York Times|date=21 January 2015}} Renamed as TurkStream, the pipeline was later completed, sending gas supplies to Bulgaria on 1 January 2020.

Along with additional supplied to Turkey, Russian gas, according to Putin, “will be retargeted to other regions of the world, which will be achieved, among other things, through the promotion and accelerated implementation of projects involving liquefied natural gas.” In 2015, the supply of Russian gas to Turkey will be raised by 3 billion cubic meters via the already operating Blue Stream pipeline. Later a new undersea pipeline to Turkey, with an annual capacity around 60 billion cubic metres (bcm) will be built. That will allow Turkey to resell Russian gas to Europe.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}

In 2018, Bulgaria's president Rumen Radev proposed that the construction of the South Stream pipeline be resumed.{{Cite web | url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/radev-pleads-in-moscow-for-bulgarian-stream-pipeline/ |title = Radev pleads in Moscow for 'Bulgarian Stream' pipeline|date = 22 May 2018}}

Image:Major russian gas pipelines to europe.png

The pipeline was to consist of the Russian onshore pipeline, the Black Sea section and pipelines in the South- East Europe. The Russian onshore section would have run from the Pochinki compressor station to the Russkaya compressor station near Anapa.

{{cite news

| url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article1300410.ece

| title = Gazprom starts work on South Stream

| newspaper = Upstream Online

| publisher = NHST Media Group

| date = 2012-12-07

| access-date = 2012-12-10}}

The {{convert|931|km|mi|adj=on}} long offshore section was to run from the Russkaya compressor station through the Black Sea to Galata near Varna, Bulgaria.D. Dimitrov, P. Dimitrov, V. Peychev, M. Tsaneva. (2014). [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334305082_Physical_-_geographical_and_geological_-_lithological_characteristic_a_trace_of_the_pipeline_Southern_stream_in_the_Bulgarian_economical_zone_of_the_Black_Sea Physical - geographical and geological - lithological characteristic a trace of the pipeline South stream in the Bulgarian economical zone of the Black Sea]. Konstantin Preslavsky Publishing House, Shumen. 7-15. doi:[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334305082_Physical_-_geographical_and_geological_-_lithological_characteristic_a_trace_of_the_pipeline_Southern_stream_in_the_Bulgarian_economical_zone_of_the_Black_Sea 10.13140/RG.2.2.31954.71367].

{{cite news

| url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/hardcopy/financial/article1363541.ece

| title = South Stream prepares deals for Black Sea lines

| newspaper = Upstream Online

| publisher = NHST Media Group

| date = 2014-05-30

| access-date = 2014-06-24}}

Because of the Russia–Ukraine gas disputes, the pipeline was to be routed through Turkey's waters to avoid the exclusive economic zone of Ukraine.

{{cite news

| publisher = The Jamestown Foundation

| newspaper = Eurasia Daily Monitor

| first = Vladimir | last = Socor

| author-link = Vladimir Socor

| url = http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Bswords%5D=8fd5893941d69d0be3f378576261ae3e&tx_ttnews%5Bany_of_the_words%5D=South%20Stream&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=34495&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=7&cHash=9422e92d79

| title= Gazprom Reveals Unaffordable Costs of South Stream Project

| date=2009-02-12

| access-date=2009-02-13}}

{{cite news

|newspaper = Today's Zaman

|url = http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=166596

|title = Russia seeks Turkey's permission for South Stream studies

|date = 2009-02-11

|access-date = 2009-02-13

}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

At the same time Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea would have allowed more direct route through the Crimean waters.

{{cite news

| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/18/world/europe/in-taking-crimea-putin-gains-a-sea-of-fuel-reserves.html?_r=0

| title = In taking Crimea, Putin gains a sea of fuel reserves

| newspaper = The New York Times

| first = William J. | last = Broad

| date= 2014-05-17

| access-date = 2014-06-24}}

The {{convert|1455|km|mi|adj=on}} long onshore section was to start from Varna and run to Pleven. From there, the original southwestern route was to continue through Greece and Ionian Sea to southern Italy.

{{cite news

| url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article152432.ece

| title = Greece steps up for South Stream

| newspaper = Upstream Online

| publisher = NHST Media Group

| date = 2008-04-15

| access-date = 2008-04-19}}

However, this route was abandoned. The newer northwestern route would have continued from Pleven to Serbia. In Serbia, then running through Zaječar and Paraćin to Čenta. From Čenta the main pipeline would have continued in direction of Gospođinci while branch-off line would run to Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Srbijagas planned to construct along Sava river a {{convert|480|km|adj=on}} long branch pipeline with a capacity of {{convert|1.2|e9m3|abbr=off}} to Banja Luka and Sarajevo.

{{cite news

| work = Reuters

| url = https://www.reuters.com/article/companyNews/idUKLF61641220091015

| title= Serbia's gas monopoly eyes pipeline in Bosnia

| first = Ivana | last = Sekularac

| date=2009-10-15

| access-date=2009-10-28}}

It was also surmised that Montenegro could have connected to the pipeline.

{{cite news

|work = Turkish Weekly

|url = http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/130982/montenegro-joins-south-stream-gas-pipeline.html

|title = Montenegro Joins South Stream Gas Pipeline

|date = 2012-02-03

|access-date = 2012-10-12

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120531074403/http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/130982/montenegro-joins-south-stream-gas-pipeline.html

|archive-date = 31 May 2012

|df = dmy-all

}}

Before reaching Gospođinci, the main line was to split. One route would continue through Serbia and Hungary to Baumgarten an der March in Austria. Another route would have continued through Gospođinci and Bački Breg also to Hungary with branch-off to Croatia. In Hungary it would have gone through Hercegszántó and Tornyiszentmiklós to Slovenia and further in direction of Tarvisio to supply northern Italy.

{{cite news

| url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article152593.ece

| title = OMV calls for South Stream through Austria

| newspaper = Upstream Online

| publisher = NHST Media Group

| date = 2008-04-17

| access-date = 2008-04-19}}

{{cite news

| url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article152282.ece

| title = Slovenia eyes South Stream berth

| newspaper = Upstream Online

| publisher = NHST Media Group

| date = 2008-04-11

| access-date = 2008-04-19}}

{{cite news

| url = http://www.downstreamtoday.com/news/article.aspx?a_id=11314

| title = Gazprom: South Stream To Cross Slovenia

| publisher = Downstream Today

| agency = STA

| date = 2008-06-11

| access-date = 2008-06-12}}

The feasibility study of the offshore section was conducted by Saipem, a subsidiary of Eni.

{{cite news

| url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/bulgaria-putin-idUSL1871461920080118

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305161758/http://uk.reuters.com/article/bulgaria-putin-idUSL1871461920080118

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 5 March 2016

| title = Bulgaria signs up for Russian natural gas project

| first1 = Tsvetelia | last1 = Ilieva

| first2 = Oleg | last2 = Shchedrov

| work = Reuters

| date=2008-01-18

| access-date=2008-01-19}}

{{cite news

| url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article160100.ece

| title = South Stream price tag hits $20bn

| newspaper = Upstream Online

| publisher = NHST Media Group

| date=2008-07-30

| access-date=2008-07-30

| url-access=subscription}}

Planning was done by INTECSEA, a subsidiary of WorleyParsons. Giprospetsgas, an affiliate of

Gazprom, has been appointed as a general design contractor.

{{cite journal

|url = http://www.intecsea.com/documents/quarterly_journals/INT_QJ3_1209.pdf

|title = Gazprom's South Stream project crossing the Black Sea

|first1 = Alex

|last1 = Mayants

|journal = INTECSEA Quarterly Journal

|publisher = INTECSEA

|year = 2009

|access-date = 2011-10-25

|issue = Q3

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100705064710/http://www.intecsea.com/documents/quarterly_journals/INT_QJ3_1209.pdf

|archive-date = 5 July 2010

|df = dmy-all

}}

The offshore pipeline is planned to carry {{convert|63|e9m3|abbr=off}} of natural gas per year.

{{cite news

| url = http://downstreamtoday.com/news/article.aspx?a_id=16386

| title = Gazprom Agrees To Boost Pipeline Capacity

| publisher = Downstream Today

| agency = Deutsche Presse-Agentur

| date = 2009-05-15

| access-date = 2009-05-16}}

It will have four parallel lines with capacity of {{convert|15.75|e9m3|abbr=off}} each. The offshore pipeline will use pipes with a diameter of {{convert|32|in}}, designed for {{convert|27.73|MPa}} of working pressure and having the pipe wall thickness of {{convert|39|mm|in}}.

{{cite news

| url = http://www.lngworldnews.com/gazprom-says-large-diameter-pipe-purchases-to-rise-30-percent-in-2011-russia/

| title = Gazprom says large diameter pipe purchases to rise 30 percent in 2011

| work = LNG World News

| date = 2011-09-22

| access-date = 2011-09-22}}

{{cite press release

|url = http://td.omk.ru/en/press_centre/printable.php?id9=2351

|title = VSW Produces a Qualification Batch of LDP for the South Stream Project

|publisher = OMK

|date = 2011-03-21

|access-date = 2011-10-25

}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

The first line should be ready by the end of 2015, the second and third lines by the end of 2016, and the fourth line by the end of 2017. The offshore section is expected to cost €10 billion.

Pipeline sections in Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, and Slovenia would have capacity at least {{convert|10|e9m3|abbr=off}} per year. The onshore pipeline will have eight compressor stations and it is expected to cost €6 billion.

{{cite press release

| url = http://www.gazprom.com/press/news/2011/december/article127170/

| title = Ukrainian gas transmission system may cost more than South Stream construction

| publisher = Gazprom

| date = 2011-12-30}}

| accessdate = 2012-02-20

At least two gas storage facilities would be constructed of which one would be an underground storage facility in Hungary with capacity of minimum {{convert|1|e9m3|abbr=off}} and another one in Banatski Dvor, Serbia with capacity of {{convert|3.2|e9m3|abbr=off}}.

{{cite news

|url = http://www.kommersant.com/p859205/South_Stream/

|title = Ukraine Surfaced in South Stream Project

|newspaper = Kommersant

|date = 2008-02-29

|access-date = 2008-03-02

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080306004204/http://www.kommersant.com/p859205/South_Stream/

|archive-date = 6 March 2008

|df = dmy-all

}}

{{cite news

| url = http://www.jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2372701

| title = Gazprom set to pounce on Serbia as Putin moves into the Balkans

| first = Vladimir | last = Socor

| author-link= Vladimir Socor

| publisher = The Jamestown Foundation

| newspaper = Eurasia Daily Monitor

| date = 2008-01-09

| access-date = 2008-06-01

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080313041331/http://jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2372701

| archive-date = 2008-03-13}}

Hungarian oil and gas company MOL Group has offered its empty natural gas field at Pusztaföldvár as a {{convert|9|e9m3|abbr=off}} storage facility.

{{cite news

| url = http://www.hatc.hu/enter.php?aid=45691

| title = MOL offers reserve for South Stream

| publisher = Hungary Around the Clock

| date = 2008-05-05

| access-date = 2008-05-18}}

British Melrose Resources is planning to convert the Galata offshore field in Bulgaria to a gas storage facility with initial capacity of {{convert|1.7|e9m3|abbr=off}} by 2009.

{{cite news

|url = http://www.sharecast.com/cgi-bin/sharecast/story.cgi?story_id=2180770

|title = Melrose leaps on Bulgarian gas storage news

|publisher = ShareCast

|date = 2008-06-25

|access-date = 2008-07-25

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110716051419/http://www.sharecast.com/cgi-bin/sharecast/story.cgi?story_id=2180770

|archive-date = 16 July 2011

|df = dmy-all

}}

There are also allegations that the South Stream pipeline will be connected to the Wingas-owned Haidach gas storage.

The pipeline would be built and operated by several project companies. For the construction and operation of the offshore section of South Stream originally two companies were established, both in Zug in Switzerland with the share capital of 100,000 CHF.

{{cite news

|url= http://www.interfax.co.uk/russia-energy-news/south-stream-might-move-from-switzerland-to-holland/

|agency = Interfax

|title= South Stream might move from Switzerland to Holland

|date= 2012-08-06

|access-date= 2012-09-15

|id = {{subscription required}}}}

{{cite news

| url = http://www.moneyhouse.ch/u/south_stream_ag_CH-170.3.031.763-0.htm

| title = South Stream AG, Zug

| publisher = itonex ag

| access-date = 2008-02-27

| language=de}}

{{cite news

| url = http://www.moneyhouse.ch/en/u/south_stream_transport_ag_CH-170.3.036.137-8.htm

| title = South Stream Transport AG, Zug

| publisher = itonex ag

| access-date = 2012-02-20

| language=de}}

South Stream AG, a joint venture between Gazprom and Eni was incorporated on 18 January 2008, and South Stream Transport AG, a joint company of Gazprom, Eni, Électricité de France, and Wintershall was incorporated on 3 October 2011. Head of South Stream Transport AG is Marcel Kramer, former chief executive officer of the gas transportation company Gasunie.

{{cite press release

|url = http://www.gazprom.com/press/reportages/marcel-kramer-15-10-10/

|title = Marcel Kramer: I am absolutely confident in South Stream's future

|publisher = Gazprom

|date = 2010-10-15

|access-date = 2010-10-28

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101024172236/http://www.gazprom.com/press/reportages/marcel-kramer-15-10-10/

|archive-date = 24 October 2010

|df = dmy-all

}}

Executive director is Oleg Aksyutin. Gazprom owns 50% of shares of South Stream Transport AG, Eni 20%, and Électricité de France and Wintershall 15% both. In November 2012, it was decided to incorporate South Stream Transport B.V., the current project company, in Amsterdam.

{{cite press release

| url= http://www.gazprom.com/press/news/2012/november/article148506/

| title = Final investment decision adopted for South Stream offshore section

| publisher = Gazprom

| date = 2012-11-15

| access-date = 2012-11-17}}

Earlier Eni had registered in Amsterdam a company named South Stream BV, but in February 2012 it was renamed Eni JPDA 11-106 BV.

{{cite news

| url= http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=39769&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=13&cHash=c41ec0e4a84725a2707d22e6d9e1366c

| title= Moscow Can Use West-European Partners in South Stream Project

| first = Vladimir | last = Socor

| author-link = Vladimir Socor

| volume = 9

| issue = 156

| publisher =Jamestown Foundation

| work = Eurasia Daily Monitor

| date=2012-08-15

| access-date=2012-09-15}}

The Bulgarian section of the pipeline will be built and operated by a joint venture of Gazprom and Bulgargaz and the Serbian section by the joint venture of Gazprom and Srbijagas.

{{cite news

|url=http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2010/10/18/feature-02

|newspaper = The Southeast European Times

|access-date=2010-10-18

|title=South Stream project gets new momentum in Bulgaria

|date=2010-10-18}}

{{cite news

| url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL2534673120080225

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309121156/http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL2534673120080225

| url-status=dead

| archive-date=9 March 2008

| title = Russia and Serbia firm up gas pipeline deal

| first1 = Oleg | last1 = Shchedrov

| first2 = Ellie | last2 = Tzortzi

| work = Reuters

| date = 2008-02-25

| access-date = 2008-02-25}}

{{cite news

| newspaper = Financial Times

| title = Medvedev shows support for Serbia

| url= http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/de8f95e0-e3ae-11dc-8799-0000779fd2ac.html

| first = Neil | last = MacDonald

| date = 2008-02-25

| access-date=2008-02-26

|url-access=subscription }}

The Hungarian section will be built and operated by the equally owned joint venture between Gazprom and the state-owned Hungarian Development Bank MFB, which will buy the elaborated feasibility study of Hungarian section from SEP Co., a joint venture of Gazprom and MOL.

{{cite news

| newspaper = Upstream Online

| publisher = NHST Media Group

| url=http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article149592.ece

| title= Budapest does South Stream sums

| date=2008-02-28

| access-date=2008-03-01

| url-access=subscription}}

The Slovenia section would be built and operated by an equally owned joint venture of Gazprom and Geoplin Plinovodi. For construction of the Croatian section a 50-50 Russian-Croatian joint company would be established.

Image:Nabuccostream.png

The South Stream project was seen as a rival to the Nabucco pipeline project. Some experts like Alan Riley from London City University were claiming that the South Stream pipeline is a political project to counter Nabucco and to expand Russian presence in the region.

{{cite news

| newspaper = The Southeast European Times

| title = Energy security: South Stream vs. Nabucco gas pipelines

| first = Valentina | last = Pop

| url= http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2008/02/14/feature-02

| date = 2008-02-14

| access-date=2008-02-27

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080219235341/http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2008/02/14/feature-02

| archive-date= 2008-02-19

| url-status= dead}}

CEO of Eni Paolo Scaroni proposed to merge Nabucco and South Stream projects to "reduce investments, operational costs and increase overall returns".

{{cite news

| url = http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Resource-Wars/2010/03/11/ENI-calls-for-South-Stream-Nabucco-links/UPI-96591268317232/

| title = ENI calls for South Stream, Nabucco links

| work = United Press International

| date = 2010-03-11

| access-date = 2010-03-20}}

{{cite news

| url = https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=avHMERVnSuec

| title = Europe Needs to Push Gas Infrastructure Spending, Scaroni Says

| agency = Bloomberg

| first1 = Andres R. | last1 = Martinez

| first2 = Jessica | last2 = Resnick-Ault

| date = 2010-03-10

| access-date = 2010-03-20}}

This proposal was rejected by energy minister of Russia Sergei Shmatko saying that "South Stream is more competitive than Nabucco" and that "Nabucco and South Stream are far from being competitors".

{{cite news

| url = https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=ae4.eb4lPqjk

| title = Russia Rejects Eni Call to Merge Europe Gas Pipelines

| first = Anna | last = Shiryaevskaya

| agency = Bloomberg

| date = 2010-03-15

| access-date = 2010-03-20}}

Also OMV, a partner in both projects, has said that there were no ongoing discussions about merging the projects.

{{cite news

| url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE62H16Z20100318?sp=true

| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130104150859/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE62H16Z20100318?sp=true

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 4 January 2013

| title = OMV says no ongoing talks to merge rival pipelines

| first = Thomas | last = Grove

| work = Reuters

| date = 2010-03-18

| access-date = 2010-03-20}}

South Stream has been seen as diverting some gas transported through Ukraine, instead of providing a new source of gas for Europe. To avoid Ukraine's exclusive economic zone, the pipeline was re-routed through Turkish waters.

Before stepping down from the premiership, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi received an offer from Gazprom to become the Chairman of South Stream AG. This move was compared with the appointment of the former Chancellor of Germany Gerhard Schröder to lead Nord Stream AG, a consortium operating the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. Prodi has declined this offer.

{{cite news

| newspaper = The New York Times

| first =Judy | last = Dempsey

| title = Gazprom courts Prodi as pipeline chief

| url= https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/business/worldbusiness/28iht-gazprom.4.12404427.html?scp=1&sq=gazprom%20courts%20Prodi%20as%20pipeline%20chief&st=cse

| date = 2008-04-28

| access-date=2011-10-14}}

According to the Prodi's spokesman "Prodi was extremely flattered, but reiterated that he wants to take some time off to ponder after leaving Italian politics."

{{cite news

| publisher= Downstream Today

| agency = Dow Jones Newswires

| first1 = Luca | last1 = Di Leo

| first2 = Liam | last2 = Moloney

| title = Outgoing Italian Premier Turns Down Top Job for South Stream

| url= http://www.downstreamtoday.com/news/article.aspx?a_id=10465

| date = 2008-04-28

| access-date=2008-05-10}}

In May 2014, it was disclosed that the contract for construction of the Bulgarian section was awarded to Stroytransgaz, a company controlled by Gennady Timchenko through his Volga Group. Earlier Timchenko was included in the sanctions list in the wake of the Russian annexation of Crimea due to his close ties with President Putin.

{{cite news

| work = Novinite

| url = http://www.novinite.com/articles/160891/Sanctioned+Russian+Tycoon++Wins+Bulgaria%27s+South+Stream+Bid

| title= Sanctioned Russian Tycoon Wins Bulgaria's South Stream Bid

| date=2014-05-27

| access-date=2014-06-24}}

{{Portal|Bulgaria|Russia|Engineering|Transport|Economy|Energy}}

• {{annotated link|TurkStream|aka=Turkish Stream}}
• Balkan Stream
• {{annotated link|Serbian Stream}}
• {{annotated link|Blue Stream}}
• {{annotated link|Nord Stream}}
• {{annotated link|Trans Adriatic Pipeline}}
• {{annotated link|Interconnector Turkey–Greece–Italy}}
• {{annotated link|Nabucco pipeline}}
• {{annotated link|Energy in Bulgaria}}
• {{annotated link|Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline}}

{{Reflist|25em}}

{{Commons category|South Stream}}

• [http://www.south-stream-transport.com South Stream official Web site]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090327120311/http://www.southstream.ch/ South Stream AG]
• [http://www.energy.eu#routes Projected Gas Routes to Europe]
• [http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/croatia-agrees-to-join-south-stream/400828.html Croatia Agrees To Join South Stream]
• [http://www.vlada.mk/?q=node/6962&language=en-gb Republic of Macedonia Agrees To Join South Stream]

{{Pipeline Systems of Russia}}

{{Black Sea Energy}}

Category:Natural gas pipelines in Russia

Category:Natural gas pipelines in Italy

Category:Natural gas pipelines in Bulgaria

Category:Natural gas pipelines in Serbia

Category:Natural gas pipelines in Slovenia

Category:Proposed pipelines in Europe

Category:Gazprom pipelines

Category:Eni

Category:Électricité de France

Category:Pipelines under the Black Sea

Category:Black Sea energy

Category:Cancelled energy infrastructure