The project of construction of gas pipeline "South stream is closed, for Europe there is no other option of removing the risk of gas transit through Ukraine, in addition to the new pipeline to the Turkish stream, told reporters the head of "Gazprom" Alexey Miller.

" The project is closed. Pipeline " Turkish stream is the only route by which are able to deliver up to 63 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia, currently while in transit through Ukraine. There is no alternative. Our European partners informed about It and now their task is the development of the necessary transmission infrastructure from the border of Turkey and Greece, " said Miller after the meeting with the Deputy head of the European Commission on energenius Marasem Sefcovic.

Miller said that to build the infrastructure for a maximum of a few years." It's a very very tight schedule. In order to meet these deadlines, work on the construction of new gas pipelines in the EU member States should be started right now. Otherwise, these volumes of gas are able to be in other markets, " he said.

Alexey Miller during the meeting noticed that Gazprom for more than forty years and is a reliable supplier of gas to European consumers. The firm conducts systematic work aimed at the diversification of routes of gas supplies and oil. Two existing gas pipeline "Nord stream" and "Yamal-Europe" demonstrate high reliability and efficiency direct gas supplies from Russia.

Current efforts Gazprom aims to develop a new pipeline to Turkey under the Black sea. This project will ensure the delivery of Russian natural gas in the amount of 50 billion cubic meters at the border of Turkey and Greece.

Russia in early December announced the abandonment of the project of the gas pipeline " South stream ", which was obliged to pass under the Black sea through Bulgaria to deliver fuel in the Balkan Republic and Hungary, Austria and Italy. The project was minimized, and among them due to the unconstructive position of the European Union. Instead it was decided to build a pipe in Turkey and to make on a boundary line with Greece's gas hub for customers in southern Europe.

sections: Politics