Talks renewed on smaller gas pipeline along South Stream route

Hungary, Russia and Serbia are renewing talks on the construction of a gas pipeline that would partially mirror the route of the now abandoned South Stream pipeline, Hungary’s foreign minister told MTI by phone from St. Petersburg on Friday.

The pipeline will have a smaller capacity than the South Stream, Péter Szijjártó said.

Over the past two days, Szijjártó discussed the project with Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, CEO of gas giant Gazprom Alexei Miller and Russian and Serbian Foreign Ministers Sergei Lavrov and Ivica Dacic within the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

The minister said the quick construction of another gas pipeline was a fundamental interest of Hungary, as it would allow the country to receive gas through at least one other route.

Szijjártó said Hungary’s government would begin talks on the project with the vice-president of the European Commission in charge of energy policy and Bulgaria as soon as possible.

He said the plan to build the pipeline was realistic. The minister also said that it would not run directly to Bulgaria, but first to Turkey.