Posted on 06/08/2014 6:02:22 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Bulgaria's prime minister has ordered a halt to construction work on the Gazprom-led South Stream pipeline project.
Plamen Oresharski said after meeting US Senators John McCain, Christopher Murphy and Ron Johnson that he has ordered all work on the disputed project to continue only after consultations with Brussels.
Last week, the European Commission opened an infringement procedure against the Balkan country and asked construction work to be stopped, arguing that Bulgaria had not respected EU internal market rules covering the award of public contracts.
The stand-off over Ukraine has forced the 28-nation EU into a sudden rethink of its energy policies to make it less reliant on Russia and its state-owned gas company Gazprom.
In particular, the EU decision will affect the South Stream pipeline, in which Russia's Gazprom holds a 50% stake, and would provide an alternative supply route for Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Slovenia, Austria and Italy. It is expected to ship up to 63 billion cubic metres of gas from 2018.
Bulgaria, which is almost totally dependent on gas supplies from Russia, is trying to avoid another cut-off after it was among those who suffered most of the gas price dispute between Russia and Ukraine in 2009.
Washington had already voiced criticism over Bulgaria's decision to award the construction of the Bulgarian stretch of South Stream to a consortium led by Russia's Stroytransgaz - a Russian company subject to US sanctions.
In a statement on Friday, US Ambassador Marcie B Ries voiced "deep concern" over the decision.
"Now is not the time for business as usual with Russia," she said. "We advise Bulgarian businesses to avoid working with entities sanctioned by the United States."
"We understand that there are some issues concerning the South Stream pipeline project," Mr McCain said on Sunday and added that "obviously we want as little Russian involvement as possible."
“Plamen Oresharski said after meeting US Senators John McCain, Christopher Murphy and Ron Johnson that he has ordered...”
Further fueling the Russian meme that the Obama Administration and the U.S. is behind everything that is happening in Ukraine.
That Bulgaria chose the South Stream over the Saudi-sponsored project was a huge financial hit to a lot of people. It would allow Russian gas and oil to flow to Southern Europe, without going through the Ukrainian bottleneck.
I wonder how Russia will respond?
(snip)
"We understand that there are some issues concerning the South Stream pipeline project," Mr McCain said on Sunday and added that "obviously we want as little Russian involvement as possible."
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Map of the South Stream gas transit pipeline project. Map from south-stream.info
MORE:
Russia not notified by Bulgaria about suspension of work on South Stream - ministry
http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_06_08/Russia-not-notified-by-Bulgaria-about-suspension-of-work-on-South-Stream-ministry-4224/
Russia was not officially notified of Bulgaria suspending works related to the South Stream project, a representative of Russia’s Ministry of Energy told RIA Novosti on Sunday. He added that Russia intends to discuss the issue with the European Commission on Monday, June 9.
Russia in turn filed a lawsuit with WTO against the EU regarding the so-called ‘Third Energy Package,’ which makes it illegal for a natural gas production companies to own the natural gas pipelines located in the EU.
Early June the Eurocomission suggested that the construction of the South Stream natural gas pipeline should be halted until it conforms with the ‘Third Energy Package.’
Bulgaria suspends work on South Stream
Bulgaria suspends works on the South Stream project over the European Commission’s infringement proceedings, Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oresharrski said on Sunday after a meeting with American Senators.
EU demands that Bulgaria suspend South Stream works
“We have received a request from the European Commission, after which I ordered to suspend the works. Further actions will be clear after additional consultations with Brussels,” he said.
The South Stream pipeline was designed to carry Russian gas to the EU bypassing Ukraine.
Gas will be pumped to the Bulgaria’s Black Sea port of Varna before extending overland through Serbia, Hungary, and Slovenia to supply gas to the Western Europe via Italy and Austria.
The pipeline’s capacity amounts to 63 billion cubic meters, TASS reports
Maybe crybaby Putin will throw another temper tantrum and invade some more of his neighbors unprovoked. Maybe he can isolate his own country and damage his own country’s economy even more than he already has.
Remember...
This is ALL about Syria. Ukraine is just an extension of a much bigger geo-political energy game.
Ukraine has nothing to do with Syria.
Sure it doesn’t....
Just keep telling yourself that.
Sure and you just remember to keep your tinfoil hat shiny side outwards.
LOL ! So it isn't all about Kosovo anymore ? Oh wait, it's all because of NATO expansion, oh wait... You guys are getting more and more ridiculous each day.
And neo-cons, don’t forget about them...
obviously we want as little Russian involvement as possible
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How is that possible with a pipeline that has 50% Russian ownership?
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