Russia, Bulgaria ink 10-year gas supply dealNovember 15, 2012 - 20:23 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia’s energy giant Gazprom and Bulgaria’s largest natural gas distribution company Bulgargaz signed on Thursday, November 15 a new contract on the delivery of Russian gas to Bulgaria for the period until 2022, RIA Novosti said. The deal was signed during a working visit by Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller to Bulgaria. The document envisions annual supplies of 2.9 billion cubic meters of natural gas initially via “a traditional gas transportation route,” and via the future South Stream gas pipeline after it becomes operational. Gazprom delivered 2.81 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Bulgaria in 2011. The signing of the new contract comes shortly after Russia and Bulgaria inked a final deal on Thursday to build the Bulgarian stretch of the South Stream gas pipeline project to bring Russian natural gas to Europe along the Black Sea seabed bypassing transit countries. The offshore section of the South Stream gas pipeline will run under the Black Sea from the Russkaya compressor station to the Bulgarian coast. The total length of the Black Sea section will exceed 900 kilometers (559 miles) and its maximum depth will be more than two kilometers (1.24 miles). Following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s orders, 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 euros ($20 billion). Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |