SOFIA, Bulgaria, June 9 (UPI) -- Bulgarian development officials said Monday construction on the Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline would start in 2009, one year late.
The Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline will transport Caspian Sea and Russian oil to the Greek port of Alexandroupolis from the Bulgarian Black Sea port of Burgas.
Stefan Gunchev with the Bulgarian Development Ministry said construction on the project would start in 2009 because of delays from several firms hired to complete the work, the Sofia News Agency reported.
An international group, the Burgas-Alexandroupolis Pipeline Consortium, was established in Moscow in December 2007.
Three Russian firms, including the energy giant Gazprom, signed onto the deal along with the Bulgarian venture of Bulgargaz and Transexportstroy and the Greek venture between Hellenic Petroleum and Thraki.
Directors from the group plan to meet in Moscow June 10 to discuss execution of the project as well as an exploration group.
Gunchev said exploration projects would last about six months.
