Expert Council of Bulgaria’s Environment Ministry Gives Green Light to South Stream

Health and environment concerns voiced by locals from Varna where the pipeline will emerge from the Black Sea lead to the choice of a dig-free technology for laying the pipes at Pasha Dere beach, part of the EU-wide Natura 2000 protected zone

The High Expert Ecological Council of Bulgaria’s Ministry of Environment and Waters has given its unanimous consent for the construction of gas pipeline South Stream on Bulgarian soil. The final decision is to be signed by environment minister Iskra Mihailova, BNR reported.

Health and environment concerns voiced by locals from Varna where the pipeline will emerge from the Black Sea lead to the choice of a dig-free technology for laying the pipes at Pasha Dere beach, part of the EU-wide Natura 2000 protected zone.  A receiving terminal will connect the underwater and the onshore stretches of South Stream.

The positive decision on the construction comes a day after South Stream Transport, the project company entitled to build the pipeline, announced that it expects the first construction contracts to be signed by March, 2014.

This article originally appeared on Publics.bg, a Natural Gas Europe Media Partner