Romania Says Ready To Back South Stream Gas Pipeline Project if Invited - Media

“Officially there isn’t an intention about a possible Romanian participation in the realization of South Stream, but there are certain signals in this direction,” business daily Ziarul Financiar quoted Vosganian as saying.

EU member Romania is ready to support any EU-backed gas pipeline project, including both the Nabucco and South Stream projects, Vosganian added.

Last week Russian gas giant Gazprom said its chief executive, Alexei Miller, has met with the head of Romanian state-owned gas pipeline operator Transgaz and the chief of Romanian state-owned gas producer Romgaz in Moscow to discuss cooperation prospects. Gazprom also said it is considering building a new gas pipeline via Romania and a Gazprom delegation will visit Romania soon for a detailed discussion.

Following the announcement, Russian daily Kommersant reported that Gazprom and Transgaz have discussed a possibility to replace Bulgaria with Romania as partner in the South Stream project, designed to carry Russian gas to Western Europe. Transgaz later denied the media report.

The multi billion euro Russian-led South Stream is a joint project of Gazprom and Italian oil and gas company Eni. The pipeline is projected to carry some 30 billion cubic metres of gas annually to help meet rising demand in Europe.

The route challenges Nabucco, a key Azeri gas supply project of the European Union seen as an alternative to Russian supplies. Romania is a partner in the Nabucco pipeline designed to carry 31 billion cubic metres of Caspian natural gas to Europe.