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Contest for selecting contractor for main section of gas pipeline begins in Bulgaria

The previous bidding contest was called off because of a large number of questions concerning its details

© ИТАР-ТАСС/EPA

SOFIA, December 22, 12:38 /ITAR-TASS/. A new bidding procedure aimed at selecting a company, which will be entrusted with building the main section of the South Stream pipeline, has started off in Bulgaria.

Bids will be received until 16:00 hours EEST January 1, 2014, by the South Stream Bulgaria engineering company.

The previous bidding contest was called off because of a large number of questions concerning its details.

Companies matching a minimum set of requirements and having the necessary industrial qualifications were allowed to take part in the runoff contest. They will get all the documentation necessary for bidding and containing the technical specifications of the project.

The Bulgarian government has also issued a mandate for the necessary works to be done by the South Stream Transport company, which is building the maritime section of the pipeline and the first two kilometers of the pipe after it rises to the shore from the waters of the Black Sea.

The South Stream gas pipeline project is implemented by the Russian corporation Gazprom. The submerged part of the route will cross the floor of the Black Sea to reach the countries of southern and central Europe.

Its stated objective is to diversify the supplies of Russian natural gas to Europe and scale down dependence on some extravagant transit countries. The pipeline will cross the Bulgarian territory from East to West, or from the coast of the Black Sea near Varna to the Bulgarian-Serbian border.

The length of the Bulgarian section of the pipeline is some 540.8 kilometers. Construction works to join the two sections were kicked off October 31.

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