The South Stream Pipeline will deliver gas from the Russian Unified Gas System, which sources its gas from Russian domestic gas sources and Central Asian gas suppliers, to Europe via the Black Sea.

The pipeline involves the construction of three sections of pipeline: an onshore Russian section, an offshore section, and an onshore south and central European section.

Onshore route selection

The Russian onshore section of the pipeline will run from the Pochinki Compressor Station to the Black Sea coast. A feasibility study is currently underway to select the route for this section of pipeline.

Several possible routes for the onshore south and central Europe sections are currently being considered. Gazprom has negotiated inter-governmental agreements with Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria, which contemplate the creation of joint venture enterprises between Gazprom and local companies to develop and operate the South Stream Pipeline on their territories. Gazprom is currently in the process of starting those joint ventures with its partners.

Offshore challenges

The offshore section of South Stream will extend 900 km across the Black Sea at depths of up to 2 km and connect the Russian and Bulgarian coasts. Italian company Eni will partner Gazprom in the offshore construction of the project.

Gazprom and Eni have gained experience in the course of construction and operation of the Blue Stream Pipeline across the Black Sea. Gazprom says that Blue Stream has demonstrated that the construction of subsea projects has only a temporary and local effect on the marine environment, and the risk of potential pollution can be effectively minimised.

Currently, Gazprom and Eni are carrying out a detailed feasibility study of the project’s offshore section, which is scheduled to be completed in the beginning of 2010. At the conclusion of the study the pipeline route, technical requirements and capacity will be finalised.

Speaking about the progress of the pipeline, Gazprom Management Committee Chair Alexey Miller said “We have the technical know-how required to build South Stream in compliance with the latest environmental and technological requirements, and we are making significant progress on the pipeline. We are currently carrying out feasibility studies which will allow more accurate routeing.”

Pipeline construction works are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2015.