What is South Stream? The South Stream project

Man exists in a permanent informationflow. Far from every topic he is trying to figure out on his own. Some are not interested, others are too complicated. However, many are trying to keep abreast of economic news. After all, the living standards of everyone depend on the success of the state in this area. Over the years, everyone has become accustomed to the term South Stream. He firmly entered our lives. And what is the "South Stream"? Why is it so important for our country? Let's see.

Trade Relations with the West

We are not Jennifer Psaki, who is not particularlyunderstands where the gas flows. Therefore, we understand that Russia is not connected with Europe with ardent love. Between states is brisk trade. It is necessary to grasp its subtleties and peripetia in order to understand what the South Stream is.

This is a natural gas transfer system.European consumers. It seems to be a very profitable project. However, its implementation is constantly inhibited. The European Union is making new demands on Gazprom. You ask, so what - do not need this resource? This is where the fun begins. Of course, European enterprises need natural gas. This energy source is recognized as the most environmentally friendly. In addition, gas is the raw material for some industries. Yes, and conventional heating with it is much cheaper. So what's the problem? What is South Stream for Europeans? Why are they so stubbornly resisting the implementation of the project?

Global market

Чтобы понять строптивость Европы, необходимо look at the whole planet entirely. After all, economic ties are no longer local. All states have the opportunity to choose their partners based on their own interests and benefits. There is a certain principle in the European Union.

Countries jealously ensure that they do notbe dependent on the monopolist. That is, liberal principles are sacredly observed on the local European market. There must be competition, and a point. Suppose there are no problems with oil in this sense. It is offered by various countries earning. In addition, "black gold" can be transported on ships. That is, for him, the oceans are not an obstacle. The situation is different with natural gas. There are technologies that allow to liquefy blue fuel. But first, it is expensive. Secondly, it is necessary to build special enterprises that allow the reverse procedure. The pipe is much cheaper.

Background

It is still probably not clear what the “Southernflow". The fact is that Europe has been using Russian gas for many decades. The first pipeline was built in Soviet times. He walked through the territory of the now independent Ukraine. Then no political problems existed. Chose the best route. All this cooperation was beneficial. Europe built factories and other enterprises, the USSR received the necessary currency for the purchase of technology. However, the Union collapsed. It was necessary to build new relations not only with Europe, but also between the once fraternal republics. On the one hand, sort of agreed. Ukraine has become a transit country. For the use of its territory, she received good money and discounts on blue fuel. But then big politics intervened in the process ...

Unreliable transit

События на Украине развивались рывками.In 2004, the first bell sounded, warning Gazprom about the complication of gas transit through its neighbor’s territory. The next was in 2009. Ukraine was shaking in a political sense. The authorities changed, and with them those who influenced the transit. In order not to depend on an unreliable neighbor, Russia built a gas pipeline bypassing its territory. It works fine now. Its name is “Nord Stream”. However, this pipe is not enough to meet the needs of all EU countries. Its southern part is provided with blue fuel through the Ukrainian pipe. A neighbor's appetites are becoming more and more demanding. This is where the South Stream project came into being. That is, this is another gas pipeline that bypasses Ukraine.

Gas supply routes to Europe

South Stream is a gas pipeline to provide blue fuel to the countries of the Balkan Peninsula, Austria and Italy.

Его впервые озвучили в 2007 году.Since then, a lot of work has been done. Contracts were made, technical documentation was developed, routes were laid, and so on. The European Union almost immediately began to slow down a grand project. The fact is that the South Stream is a gas pipeline, part of which was to cross the Black Sea. About nine hundred kilometers of pipe had to lie on the bottom. Starting at the Russkaya compressor station, the pipe was supposed to go near the city of Varna on the Bulgarian coast. In theory, in this way Europe and Russia defended themselves from transit countries, namely from Ukraine and Turkey. However, the project was not destined to come true.

Bulgaria - the reason for the closure of the project

Work on the construction of the "South Stream" went withcreak. The European Union demanded all new approvals, set conditions that had not been previously announced. One of them was the “Third Energy Package”. Its essence was that the gas supplier could not simultaneously be the owner of the transport system. That is, it turns out that the recipient countries wanted to own the pipe. Russia could not agree with this, since the reliability of the “alien” transporter was in doubt. Moreover, Gazprom was going to build on its own funds. Why share profits with others? South Stream, the scheme of which was nevertheless agreed with some end users, was supposed to start working in 2015. But it turned out that Bulgaria does not issue a building permit on its territory. No exhortations on her did not work. The government of the country refused from the huge profit from the transit (about 400 million dollars) and refused the necessary approvals.

South Stream is closed

В декабре 2014 году президент РФ побывал с visit to Turkey. Negotiations were conducted in different directions. Included gas transit issues. By this time, Russia has already built its part of the pipe, which is part of the South Stream. The transit scheme has already been revised by this time. First, the Crimea has already become part of the Russian Federation. Consequently, it became possible to reduce the cost of construction by laying a pipe through its territory. Secondly, Bulgaria has officially announced the abandonment of the project. Turkey immediately took advantage of this.

"South Stream" decided to close completely.About this in an interview about the results of the negotiations said V. Putin. He also spoke about the change in plans. During the negotiations, it was decided that the South Stream project would be reoriented to the Turkish shores. This, by the way, will significantly reduce the cost of its construction, as it will shorten the length of the marine part.

South Stream via Turkey

Газпром подписал новое соглашение с корпорацией Botas Petroleum Pipeline Corporation. According to the new scheme, the “Russian” pipe will pass along the bottom of the sea and come out on the Turkish coast. Its technical characteristics do not change. All the same volume will be delivered. Namely, 63 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Part of the fuel used by Turkish enterprises. And surplus, as planned, will buy Europe. South Stream "still reaches its territory. But now bypassing Bulgaria. This country was the most "affected." After all, she now can not see any gas or money for transit. It should be noted that the South Stream through Turkey solves several problems at once. Not all of them lie in the economic plane, but the money from this of new gas partners should be added.

USA and South Stream

We have not yet touched another player whoinfluenced the process of agreeing the now closed project. This, of course, our favorite States. They really do not want to give up such a huge energy market in Russia. Europe "South Stream" perceived as a guaranteed solution to the problem of gas shortages. Of the other options there is Nabucco. Only this project exists, so to speak, on paper. It never came to its implementation. In short, according to this idea, Europe could receive Turkmen gas. Turkey was supposed to be a transit country. South Stream competed in a sense with Nabucco. It is worth noting that this project was created under the protectorate of the United States. They urgently need to enter the European energy market to solve their own economic problems. The decisions of the European Commission, as you understand, were directly dictated by Washington. And the countries of the European Union cannot obey them. These are the rules of this supranational entity. By the way, the South Stream through Turkey eliminates the need to comply with European legislation. Which greatly eases the fate of Gazprom.

Turkish stream

Re-routing in favor of a non-member transitThe European Union leads to the fact that Brussels loses the ability to influence the supply. Countries will now have to decide for themselves whether they wish to bring South Stream to themselves. News about this comes a variety. On the one hand, everyone is afraid of shouts from Brussels, on the other hand, there is no way to do without gas. And EU bureaucrats are negotiating with the United States on the transatlantic partnership. If such an agreement is signed, then Gazprom will survive from this zone. Europe, the “South Stream” which is “not satisfied”, will be forced to buy liquefied gas at exorbitant prices. It should be noted that the situation is also aggravated by the political position of Turkey. This country has been waiting for five decades to be accepted into the European Union. Therefore, pressure on Erdogan will not work. He will supply blue fuel on his terms. And the threat of building Nabucco now does not affect the process. Indeed, it is impossible to build it bypassing Turkey. Therefore, there is a certainty that this time nothing will prevent the opening of the South Stream gas pipeline. News about construction work appeared in the press in 2014. Turks gladly got down to business, inviting European partners to stand in line.