The South Stream is a transnational gas pipeline project being developed for the purpose of diversifying the routes of natural gas supplies to European consumers and stipulating the conveyance of the blue fuel to South and Central Europe across the Black Sea.

The South Stream project is aimed at strengthening the European energy security. It is another real step toward executing the Gazprom strategy to diversify the Russian natural gas supply routes. The new gas pipeline system meeting the latest environmental and technological requirements will significantly raise the energy supply security of the entire European continent.

At the pre-investment stage of the project a number of optional gas pipeline routes are being addressed including onshore sections across the Russian Federation and several European countries, as well as offshore gas pipelines via the Black and Adriatic Seas (in case the option of gas supply to the Southern Italy is selected).

South Stream: Highest Environment and Safety Standards The South Stream consortium for the offshore section of the pipeline brings together Gazprom and Eni, both of which have extensive experience in building and operating state-of-the-art pipeline networks.

The Blue Stream gas pipeline Gazprom and Eni have gained experience in implementing a major joint project in the Black Sea region, namely the Blue Stream pipeline construction project. The project is aimed at supplying the natural gas from Russia to Turkey across the Black Sea bypassing third parties.

In November 2006 Gazprom and Eni entered into the Strategic Partnership Agreement providing Gazprom with the opportunity to directly supply Russian gas to the Italian market starting from 2007. Gas supply volumes will be gradually increased to 3 billion cubic meters per annum by 2010. Under the Agreement the existing contracts for Russian gas supplies to Italy have been extended till 2035.

June 23, 2007 – Gazprom and Eni signed a memorandum for the South Stream project.
63 billion cubic meters per annum – pipeline’s design capacity
900 km – total length of the pipeline’s offshore section.
2,000 m – maximum depth of the pipeline laying in the Black Sea