Russia: Bulgarian South Stream Section Faces no Insurmountable Issues

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak has expressed certainty that the problems surrounding the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline section in Bulgaria will be solved.

Novak, as cited by ITAR-TASS, suggested in an interview on Tuesday that Bulgaria's issue was a working-level problem which was being discussed and resolved between the companies which had established the joint venture on the project and were taking further steps to pick subcontractors.

He was positive that the gas pipeline project would be implemented on schedule and that there were no insurmountable problems.

Novak also made clear that Hungary had asked Gazprom to increase gas supplies for Hungarian underground gas storage facilities.

He informed that the Russian energy giant was reviewing the request, adding that it would most probably be approved.

Earlier on Tuesday, Russian Gazprom and Austrian oil and gas company OMV signed an agreement on the construction of the Austrian section of the South Stream gas pipeline.