Russia's South Stream pipeline rivals a pipeline project known as Nabucco that has the backing of the European Union and the United States and would provide a supply of gas not subject to Russian control. At a signing ceremony in Ankara, Vladimir Putin, the Russian prime minister, and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, sought to portray the South Stream project as a contributor to Europe's energy security. The deal they signed provides for constructing part of the pipeline through Turkish waters in the Black Sea. South Stream would eventually run from Russia to Bulgaria before delivering gas to consumers in the European Union. Mr Putin acknowledged that the Russian plan was in competition with the EU-backed one, speaking in blunter language than Russian officials who have downplayed the pipeline rivalry in the past. But he suggested the two projects could coexist. "Even with the construction of South Stream, Nabucco will not be closed," Mr Putin said. "The more infrastructure projects, the better, because that will create reliability and stability of energy supply to Europe." The Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi joined Mr Putin and Mr Erdogan at the ceremony. Italian oil and gas giant Eni is involved in the South Stream project and another Turkish venture, Samsun-Ceyhan. Just last month in Ankara, European countries sealed a deal on the Nabucco pipeline project, which aims to bring natural gas from Central Asia and the Middle East to Europe.Russia and Turkey sign gas deal
Russia secured Turkish support yesterday to build a gas pipeline through Turkish
waters that will challenge European efforts to reduce energy dependence on Moscow.
Friday, 7 August 2009
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