Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend K.Arinova / Kazakhstan met as unexpected the statements urging that the South Stream project will be designed also for gas of this country, a source at KazMunayGas, a national company of Kazakhstan said.
The sea section of the gas pipeline will run via the Black Sea ground ranging from the compression station Coastal to the Russian coast in Bulgaria. The total length of the Black Sea section is approximately 900km and maximal depth is over 2km. Two possible routes - one to northwest and another to southwest - are considered for land section ranging from Bulgaria.
"News on plans of construction of South Stream was unexpected for us and the statements urging the possibility of Kazakh gas transportation via this route are too premature. The issue on Kazakhstan's joining to this project has not been considered so far," the source added.
The discharge capacity of the South Steam will be defined within the framework of feasibility so that to optimize the expenses with the consideration of market researches, which will be held in transit countries and final markets. Greece has stated on its intention of participating in the project.
According to representatives of KazMunayGas, the South Stream might become a rival to the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline. South Stream can attract considerable volute of natural gas," the same source added.
The development of a feasibility study of South Flow project will take 9 months to complete and the construction up to 4 years. Eni company of Italy and Gasprom company of Russia signed an agreement on South Stream in Rome on 23 June.