Gazprom proposes building South Stream via Italy

The Russian company Gazprom is proposing to end the gas pipeline "South Stream" in
the north of Italy, bypassing Austria, the CEO of Gazprom Alexei
Miller said, RIA Novosti reports.

He clarified that the decision is not final. The investment decision
regarding the final project will be made in November.

The "South Stream" will start on the Russian Black Sea coast in the
Krasnodar Territory not far from Anapa. The pipeline route will pass
under the Black Sea and Turkey's exclusive economic zone. It will
reach the coast of Bulgaria near the town of Varna. Then the
Russian gas will go through Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary and Slovenia to
the north of Italy. It is planned to build additional gas pipelines in
Greece, Croatia and Serbia.

It was reported earlier that several options are being considered for the
route of the South Stream gas pipeline:
Russia-Bulgaria-Serbia-Hungary-Austria;
Russia-Bulgaria-Serbia-Hungary-Slovenia or Bulgaria-Greece-Italy.