Contract on changes of South Stream spatial plan signed

South Stream Serbia company and the Republic Agency for Spatial Planning have signed today a contract on development of the spatial plan supplement for the section of the South stream gas pipeline through Serbia.

General Manager of South Stream Srbija and the General Manager of Srbijagas, Dusan Bajatovic, said that now all the contracts which lead to the beginning of construction of the Serbian gas pipeline section by the end of 2013 were provided.

- All requirements for laying pipes for South stream Serbia by the end of this year have been fulfilled – he said.

Bajatovic pointed out that the gas pipeline route through Serbia, including interconnection towards Croatia and the Republic of Srpska, was completely defined.

According to him, the preliminary design for the South stream Srbijagas submitted was estimated well and by June 30 the main draft will be delivered so tenders for the supply of pipes and compressors will follow soon.

- In the fall, we can discuss South stream to obtain construction permit, as for Serbia – Bajatovic said.

He repeated that the gas pipeline South Stream in Serbia start at Zajecar and end at Sombor while it will split at Gospodjinci towards Croatia and at Belgrade towards the Republic of Srpska.

The acting manager of the Republic Agency for Spatial Planning, Dragan Duncic, said that spatial plan of the South Stream will be supplemented with parts towards Croatia and the Republic of Srpska.

- Spatial plan changes and amendments will enable Srbijagas to solve property-legal issues and access roads with electric cables, on 75 locations on a route of 600 kilometers –Duncic said.

Investments in the South Stream sections construction should total EUR 1, 7 billion.

South Stream gas pipeline should cost EUR 16 billion, it will deliver Russian gas to customers in the Southeast Europe and its annual capacity will be 63 billion cube meters.

Russian state-owned company, Gazprom, is the project owner.