Russia's construction ministry approves South Stream gas pipeline

The permit enables the company to start the construction of the technical infrastructure, as well as all onshore strings of the pipeline, four micro-tunnels and a 3-kilometer gas branch to connect South Stream to the Gazprom's Unified Gas Supply System.

As provided by the permit, South Stream Transport will start developing a construction site near Anapa and building access roads; in addition, the company will take on the deliveries of construction machineries, equipment and materials and arrange protection of rare plants and animals.

Pipe laying in Russia's territorial waters is due in November 2014, upon obtaining a permit from the ministry of natural resources and environment of the Russian Federation for laying subsea cables and pipelines across Russia's continental shelf and territorial waters.