Gazprom starts work on South Stream

Symbolic: welding of pipe sections at South Stream construction launch

AFP/SCANPIX

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Steve Marshall

 07 December 2012 15:17 GMT

A Gazprom-led consortium formally started construction on Friday of the South Stream gas pipeline that will feed European markets.

High-profile guests including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Gazprom executive chairman Alexei Miller and Eni chief executive were in attendance at a launch ceremony held at the Russkaya compressor station near the Black Sea resort town of Anapa.

Two sections of the pipeline were symbolically welded together in what was hailed by Miller as “an historical event”representing the bonding of the Russian and European gas transport systems.

"The project embodies the intention of Russia and the countries of southern and central Europe to strengthen the partnership in the energy sector and to create a…

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