site.bta Administrative Work on South Stream Project Continues Despite Unofficial Cancellation

Administrative Work on South Stream Project Continues Despite Unofficial Cancellation


Sofia, March 11 (BTA) - Although Russia has unofficially
cancelled the South Stream gas pipeline project, the Bulgarian
government continues to perform its duties in relation to the
project because Moscow has not formally notified Sofia about the
cancellation, the Bulgarian Regional Development and Public
Works Ministry said on March 10.

The remark came a day after the Ministry launched a public
procurement procedure to award a contract for an assessment of
the building right for the Bulgarian section of the South Stream
gas pipeline.

On December 1, 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that
Russia has abandoned the South Stream gas pipeline project, but
the Bulgarian government has not received a formal notification
from Russia to this effect.

The Regional Development and Public Works Ministry further said
that if it fails to discharge its duties regarding the project,
this could entail court action and financial sanctions against
Bulgaria. The next step will be to select a licensed assessor
for the building right, the Ministry said.

It noted that the South Stream project is included in a
programmatic declaration of the current coalition government of
Bulgaria and in a government programme for the country's
development in the period 2014-2018, which says that one of the
national priorities in the energy sector is to continue the
construction of the South Stream gas pipeline. The project
company which is in charge of South Stream has asked the
Regional Development and Public Works Ministry to continue
working on the project, specifically to regulate the legal
rights over the seabed and beach areas affected by the project.
For that reason, and also in accordance with relevant
legislation, the administrative work on the procedures has not
been discontinued.