VIENNA, June 24. /ITAR-TASS/. First gas through the South Stream pipeline is expected to be pumped to Austria at the end of 2016, Austrian OMV oil and gas company spokesman Robert Lechner told reporters on Tuesday.
It is expected that during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Austria on Tuesday, Gazprom and OMV will sign a shareholders’ agreement, determining principles of activity of a joint venture to implement the project.
“It is expected that late in 2016 - early in 2017 the first gas will reach [the Austrian gas distribution node in] Baumgarten,” he said.
Lechner reminded reporters that the Austrian section of the South Stream gas pipeline is about 50 kilometers long, and the pipeline capacity is up to 32 billion cubic meters of gas a year.
Earlier reports said the project may achieve its rated capacity early in 2018.