Stroytransgaz to build pipe in Macedonia instead of South Stream

As the Kommersant has got to know, Stroytransgaz of Gennady Timchenko begins to build a section of the Klechovtse - Negotino pipeline in Macedonia to the amount of about $75 million. The previous Balkan experience of Stroytransgaz was unsuccessful: the company was to build the Bulgarian section of South Stream, but Russia refused it because of a conflict with the EU. The Macedonian project has survived, though it was to become a part of South Stream too. It can connect the gas transportation system of the country with Greece, allowing Macedonia, Serbia, Hungary and Austria to get gas from Turkish Stream, which replaced South Stream.

Stroytransgaz of Gennady Timchenko is going to begin work on construction of a gas pipeline in Macedonia at the end of this week, sources familiar with the situation told the Kommersant. This is the first stage of the Klechovtse - Negotino pipeline of 61 km length and 508 mm diameter, which would supply gas to Stip. The construction period is just over a year, and then it is planned to extend the pipeline to station in Negotino to switch it from black oil to gas, and then to build 60 km more of pipes to connect it with the gas transmission system in Greece. Stroytransgaz calls the project "promising", explaining that the company completes the "preparatory phase, associated with the assessment of manpower and resources".