Gazprom has received approval of new Anapa borders for construction of the Southern Corridor pipeline system, Prime reports.
Construction will start in December 2012. The pipeline will run through the Black Sea to the Southern and Central Europe. Agreements were signed with Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Greece, Slovenia, Croatia and Austria.
Shareholders of South Stream Transport AG signed a deal on maritime construction in mid-September 2011. Gazprom has a share of 50%, Eni (Italy) has 20%, Wintershall Holding GmbH (Germany) and EDF (France) have 15% each.
Russian prime Minister Vladimir Putin ordered the process to speed up in December 2011 and start construction in 2012. Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller approved a detailed plan for the sea section of the pipeline in January 2012 to start its construction in December 2012. Foreign partners concluded entrance into the project in April 2012. First gas supplies are planned in late 2015.
