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    South Stream Launches in Serbia

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Summary

he launch of the project to lay the South Stream gas pipeline across Serbia is an event of major importance for Serbia and the Balkan countries, and for the whole of Europe, said Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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Natural Gas & LNG News, News By Country, Serbia, Pipelines, South Stream Pipeline

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South Stream Launches in Serbia

Serbia hosted today the ceremony of welding the first joint of the Serbian section of the South Stream gas pipeline. The ceremony took place in the vicinity of Sajkas village, South Backa District.

Taking part in the event via video link from the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade were Alexey Miller Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, Tomislav Nikolic, President of the Republic of Serbia, Ivica Dacic, Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Alexander Novak, Russian Minister of Energy and Dusan Bajatovic, Director General of Srbijagas.

“Right after Bulgaria we started building South Stream in Serbia. The project is strategically important for the entire Europe. The new trans-European gas transmission system will eliminate the pressing problem of transit risks and secure uninterrupted Russian gas supplies to dozens of thousands of European consumers. South Stream will adjust the European energy map for the better, becoming an integral part of the EU's energy security system.

The gas pipeline construction in Serbia will add considerable momentum to the development of the whole gas transmission system, turning the country into a large gas transit and storage center of the European significance. South Stream will boost integration and economic processes in the region, attracting over EUR 1.5 billion of direct investments to Serbia and creating more than 2.5 thousand jobs for the construction period.

Hungary is next in turn for the South Stream construction to begin,” said Alexey Miller.

South Stream will run in Serbia from Zajecar at the border of Serbia and Bulgaria to Backi Breg that borders Hungary. The length of the Serbian section will be 422 kilometers. Gas branches from the main pipeline will be laid to Croatia (51 kilometers) and Republika Srpska (109 kilometers).

Set up in November 2009 by Gazprom (a 51 per cent stake) and Srbijagas (a 49 per cent stake), South Stream Serbia AG joint project company is responsible for the construction and subsequent operation of South Stream in Serbia.

Source: Gazprom

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