Gazprom, Slovenia sign deal to stretch South Stream pipelineNovember 13, 2012 - 14:19 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian energy giant Gazprom and Slovenia have signed a final deal to build the Slovenian stretch of the South Stream gas pipeline, Gazprom said in a statement on Tuesday, Nov 13, according to RIA Novosti. The deal was signed by Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and Slovenia’s Plinovodi d.o.o. General Director Marjan Eberlinc in the presence of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Gazprom has previously signed similar deals with Hungary and Serbia. The South Stream pipeline will transport up to 63 billion cubic meters of natural gas to central and southern Europe along the Black Sea seabed, diversifying Russian gas routes away from transit countries such as Ukraine. Following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s instruction, Gazprom has accelerated the South Stream pipeline's construction schedule, with work now to begin before the end of 2012. The pipeline’s commercial deliveries of natural gas to Europe are expected to start in the first quarter of 2016 and the project is set to reach its designed capacity of 63 billion cu m in 2018. The project’s cost, including the pipeline’s overland sections, is estimated at $16 billion. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | U.S. warns Georgia not to side with Moscow against the west Georgia has been warned by the U.S. not to become an adversary of the west by falling back in line with Moscow. Power of One Dram sums up two-year program with Teach for Armenia Idram Junior also joined the companies during the visit, bringing with it a fascinating intellectual game for children Moscow slams EU mission in Armenia for “provocative activity” The EU mission is doing more and more against Armenia’s neighbors Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran, Mikhail Galuzin said. Yerevan Mayor to travel to Paris on May 15-19 The official delegation headed by Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan will travel to Paris from May 15 to 19. |