site.btaPM Borissov: Bulgaria, Serbia Should Complete Balkan Stream Pipeline Construction Simultaneously

October 21 (BTA) -
"We would like to be ready with the construction of the
Bulgarian section of the so called Balkan Stream together with
the Serbs," said here on Monday Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.
He was inspecting the progress of Bulgargatransgaz's pipeline
extension to the border with Serbia.

The construction works are carried out by the Saudi Arkad
Consortium. The inspection was attended by Serbia's Energy
Minister Aleksandar Antic, Saudi Arabia's Deputy Energy Minister
 Aabed Abdullah al-Saadoun, Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav
Donchev, Energy Minister Temenouzhka Petkova and a
representative of Hungary's Energy Ministry.

According to Serbia's Energy Minister Antic, the Serbian
pipeline, which is part of the Balkan Stream, should be ready by
 this year's end. Borissov noted that the schedules are being
synchronized, so that construction works can be completed
simultaneously on both sides of the border.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister further noted that the pipeline's
extension is a huge endeavour in which USD 1.2 billion will be
invested. Work on the project is going on round-the-clock. Some
24 train cars bring pipes into Bulgaria on a daily basis, which
are then transported to the construction site by 60-70
heavy-duty trucks, he said. True natural gas supply
diversification will be achieved in the Balkans and Hungary
after the gas interconnector with Greece is completed, in which
Bulgaria is investing 500 million euro, Borissov explained.
RY/MY



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