MOSCOW, March 10 (UPI) -- Russia will examine a liquefied natural gas terminal on the Black Sea as part of the South Stream project to transport gas to Europe, the prime minister said.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin ordered nergy Minister Sergei Shmatko to consider recommendations for LNG plants on the Black Sea. This could take the place of the underwater section planned for South Stream through Turkish waters.
Shmatko said European leaders outlined LNG options for the Black Sea in February. Marlene Holzner, a spokeswoman for the European energy commissioner, stressed to Bloomberg News, however, that the issue "was not discussed" with Moscow during the February talks in Brussels.
South Stream is one of Russia's options for diversifying gas transit options to Europe. Political spats between Kiev and Moscow make conventional routes risky.
The project 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.
