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Greece says South Stream pipeline project with Russia priority

01 June 2011 04:21 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The South Stream project, which Greece carries out jointly with Russia, remains a priority for the country, the Greek energy minister said.

Greek Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change Konstantina Birbili said at a meeting with South Stream project CEO Marcel Kramer that "the Greek government considers South Stream one of its priority energy projects, which enhance energy security by diversifying delivery routes."

Birbili added that her country, which is to receive natural gas for domestic needs via the pipeline and transit it further to Italy, would continue efforts to promote the project within the European Union.

The Greek minister also said all research needed for construction is going smoothly.

The $21.5 billion pipeline, which will transport up to 63 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe, is being developed by Italy’s Eni and Russian gas giant Gazprom. French EdF and Germany’s Wintershall will also participate in the project, with 10 and 15 percent of shares, respectively. Russia plans to launch the pipeline in 2015.