Construction of "Južni tok" still uncertain

- Construction of gas pipeline "Južni tok" is still uncertain because of the global economic crisis and lack of money, but that project may be implemented for political reasons - the participants in the round table on Serbia-Russian relations estimated.

The Manager of Russian Energy and Transportation Research Center, Igor Tomberg, said that he was pessimistic about realization of "Južni tok" because the investment of 25 billion EUR was huge in the current situation, even for "Gazprom".

- "Južni tok" may be built either for political reasons or later, but I am a pessimist at the moment - Tomberg said at the round table that was organized by the Belgrade-based International and Security Affairs Center (ISAC).

Gas pipeline "Južni tok", a project by Russian "Gazprom" and Italian company "Eni", should transfer Russian gas under the Black Sea, across the Balkan countries, to Western Europe. According to some earlier documents, construction of "Južni tok" was supposed to be finished prior to December 31st, 2015, at the latest.