4.12.2014, Strategic
Culture Foundation http://www.strategic-culture.org (Russia)
Фонд стратегической культуры http://www.fondsk.ru (Россия)
Alexander DONETSKY
The work on Black Sea undersea gas pipeline going around Ukraine started
in June 2007 in the wake of gas war with Russia initiated by Kiev. Along with
the offshore North Stream in the Baltic Sea the South Stream was to bypass the
politically unstable Ukraine to ensure regular supplies to Bulgaria, Serbia,
Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Austria, Greece and Italy. The planned
capacity of the $16 billion project was 63 billion cubic meters. The beginning
of construction was slated for 2013 but Gasprom changed the plans to hold the
kick-off ceremony led by Russian President on December 7, 2012. The offshore
section of the pipeline was to be launched in December 2014. Pipes were
transported to the Bulgarian city of Varna.
The United States vehemently opposed the project. In July, 2009 Bulgaria
left the South Stream in favor of US-backed Nabucco connecting Europe with
Azerbaijan and the Iranian South Pars gas field. By the end of 2010 Sofia
joined the project again. In January 2011 Günther Oettinger, the EU
Commissioner for Energy, called on European states to dissuade
