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South Stream gas pipeline

Russia’s energy minister confirms no talks on South Stream are underway with Bulgaria

Earlier Bulgarian media reported that the works on the South Stream project would be resumed within a few weeks

© EPA/FILIP SINGER

MOSCOW, January 14. /TASS/. South Stream gas pipeline construction project was halted and no negotiations are currently underway, Russia’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday.

"This project is halted and no negotiations or action are underway for the time being. We are always communicating with Bulgaria in various formats," the minister said.

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Bulgaria’s Minister of Economy Bozhidar Lukarski said earlier on the air with bTV channel the South Stream pipeline project is not implemented for the time being but may be resumed at any time.

Earlier Bulgarian media reported that the works on the South Stream project would be resumed within a few weeks. According to the Standart newspaper, "Moscow is returning to the South Stream pipeline, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov told his immediate surroundings." The project on construction of the natural gas pipeline is likely to be one of the items on the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the Russian-Bulgarian intergovernmental commission on commercial and economic and scientific and technological cooperation, which is due to be held in Sofia in end-January after a 5-year break, Standart reported.

On December 1, 2014 President Vladimir Putin said Russia will not implement the South Stream project amid current environment. Chairman of Gazprom's Management Committee Alexey Miller said the project was no longer relevant.

The South Stream gas pipeline project worth €15.5 bln provides for supplies of 67 bln cubic meters of natural gas per year to Europe.

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South Stream Alexander Novak

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