MOSCOW, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Russian gas company Gazprom announced it selected a contractor to perform a feasibility study for the Bulgarian section of the South Stream gas pipeline.
Gazprom announced that a consortium between Russian energy company Yuzhniigiprogaz and Bulgarian gas company Gastek won a tender for the feasibility study for the South Stream natural gas pipeline through Bulgaria.
South Stream would move 2.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas to Europe per year after it passes through the Turkish waters of the Black Sea. South Stream would branch into two sections -- one to Greece and Italy and another through Austria -- once it reaches Bulgarian territory.
Moscow aims to diversify its natural gas export options to Europe through South Stream to avoid politically sensitive territory in Ukraine.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov announced in January that the European Investment Bank agreed to help his country build its section of the Nabucco natural gas pipeline.
Nabucco would run through Turkey to Austria, crossing Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary. The route closely follows Russia's plans for South Stream, considered a rival to Nabucco.
