ITAR-TASS: Russia hopes for talks with EU on South Stream — energy minister

The European Parliament voted on Friday for termination of intergovernmental agreements on the South Stream project with an aim to include it in the Third Energy Package

Russia hopes to discuss soon with the European Union the South Stream gas pipeline project terminated by Brussels, Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday.

A date for discussions will be determined at a trilateral gas meeting between Russia, Ukraine and the European Union, Novak said.

South Stream is Gazprom's global infrastructure project designed to build a gas pipeline with a capacity of 63 billion cubic meters across the Black Sea to Southern and Central Europe in order to diversify natural gas export routes and eliminate transit risks.

The construction of the South Stream pipeline started in late 2012. Under the project, the first deliveries are due in 2016 and the pipeline is expected to become fully operational in 2018.  MORE