‘The deal has been reached and the agreement is expected to be signed on Saturday,’ said ministry spokesman Gregor Resman.
It will supply gas under the Black Sea, skirting Ukraine, and is intended also to cross Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Greece, Austria and Italy.
Conflicts over payments between Russia and Ukraine, through which most of Russia’s gas exports to European markets now flow, have caused gaps and gas shortages in Europe during recent winters.
In 2015, the pipeline is expected to become operational. The pipeline will have a capacity of up to 63 billion cubic metres per year and will be built by OAO Gazprom and Eni S.p.A.
