MOSCOW, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- The first deliveries of Russian natural gas through the South Stream pipeline for Europe are scheduled for late 2015, Russian energy company Gazprom confirmed.
Moscow aims to diversify its gas transit options with the South Steam natural gas pipeline. The project would carry roughly 2.2 trillion cubic feet of gas per year when it goes into service by 2015.
South Stream would divide into two pipelines -- one to Greece and the other through the Balkans -- after it passes through the Turkish waters of the Black Sea.
The board of directors at Gazprom confirmed during a board meeting that the project was moving ahead as scheduled.
"Late 2015 is scheduled for the gas pipeline's first string commissioning," the company said in a statement.
Technical and economic studies for the South Stream pipeline are expected by 2011.
Nearly all of Russia's gas headed to European markets travels through Ukraine and the stormy relationship with Kiev has exposed vulnerabilities in the regional gas sector.
Moscow as a result has moved forward with plans to build South Stream to avoid issues with Ukraine.
