Eni

The construction of the ground stretch of the South Stream pipeline in Bulgaria and Serbia  starts in May, said Gazprom head Alexey Miller.

According to a statement, published in the Russian-language section of Gazprom's website, in Bulgaria soon will be signed a contract for delivery of materials and equipment, construction and staff training. 

From EurActiv

Bulgarian Energy Minister Dragomir Stoynev met with the EU's Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger Thursday (24 April) to discuss the future of the Gazprom-sponsored South Stream gas pipeline. But the two sides offered a widely diverging interpretation of the exchange.

The suspension of the South Stream gas pipeline is not being discussed, according to Dominique Ristori, Director-General of Directorate-General Energy of the European Commission.

The South Stream gas pipeline project will not be terminated, according to Bulgaria's Economy and Energy Minister Dragomir Stoynev.

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin has pledged that Bulgaria will do everything within its power to implement the South Stream project.

Russia's energy concern Gazprom is to acquire half of the shares of its Berlin-based subsidiary, South Stream Transport.

Gazprom's board of directors agreed that a total of 205 900 shares will be sold by Gazprom Germania to the main company, RIA Novosti reported.

South Stream gas pipeline is not considered priority for the EU, press secretary of the EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger, Sabine Berger, said on Saturday.

“As for organization of negotiations on South Stream, over discussing the project we, surely, should consider the general context of the relations between Russia and the EU,” she told Itar-Tass.

Russia’s Energy Minister Aleksander Novak revealed that the South Stream gas pipeline project is moving forward.

“Russia continues realizing the project in compliance with the intergovernmental agreements. The work cannot be suspended”, Novak said, quoted by ITAR-TASS.

Economy and Energy Minister Dragomir Stoynev has vowed that Bulgaria will fight for the implementation of the South Stream gas pipeline project.

Stoynev told journalists Thursday that Bulgaria would comply with the decisions of the European Commission but it would seek a financial mechanism for the countries which would be negatively affected by the move.

Turkey would consider the possibility that the South Stream gas pipeline could pass through its territory if Russia makes a request, the country's Energy Minister said Wednesday.

Taner Yildiz announced that Turkey was "open to assessing any request for the line to pass" through its land, Hurriyet Daily News quoted him as saying.