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South Stream gas pipeline

Bulgaria suspends works on South Stream project

“We have received a request from the European Commission, after which I ordered to suspend the works," - Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oresharrski said

Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oresharrski EPA/ABIR SULTAN

Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oresharrski

© EPA/ABIR SULTAN

SOFIA, June 08 /ITAR-TASS/. Bulgaria suspends works on the South Stream project over the European Commission’s infringement proceedings, Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oresharrski said on Sunday after a meeting with American Senators.

“We have received a request from the European Commission, after which I ordered to suspend the works. Further actions will be clear after additional consultations with Brussels,” he said.

Russia has not yet received any official notifications from Bulgaria about the suspension of the South Stream project, the Russian energy ministry told Itar-Tass on Sunday.

The issue however can be raised at the three-party gas meeting between representatives from Russia, Ukraine and the European Union due to be held on Monday in Brussels, a ministry spokesman said.

The South Stream project

The South Stream pipeline was designed to carry Russian gas to the EU bypassing Ukraine.

Gas will be pumped to the Bulgaria’s Black Sea port of Varna before extending overland through Serbia, Hungary, and Slovenia to supply gas to the Western Europe via Italy and Austria.

The pipeline’s capacity amounts to 63 billion cubic meters.

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