Russian President Vladimir Putin and Gazprom, ENI, Wintershall and EDF CEOs attended the official open celebration. Southstream blocks the European Commission gas supplies diversification's policy
16.5 Milliard of Euros for the most expensive pipeline's realization, which increases Europe's energy dependence on Russia.
On Friday 12/7 Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Southern Russia Anapa town, officially opened Southstream Pipeline's realization.
The event has been attended also by Russian national gas major's head Alexei Miller, Italian concern ENI CEO Paolo Scaroni, German Wintershall and French EDF companies' members, and authorities from the countries Southstream is planed to transit.
Southstream will deliver 63 bcm of Russian gas per year from Russia to Austria via the Black Sea seabed, Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy.
The project increases Europe's dependence on Russia's gas supplies, which nowadays cover the 40% of the EU total need.
Southstream has been conceived in 2008 by a personal agreement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi.
Suddenly, the pipeline has been supported also by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Serbia's head of state Tomislav Nikolic.
The EU criticized Southstream because it does not ensure Europe's energy independence and endangers EU member states' national security.
Despite of Russia's activity in Southstream pipeline, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz declared Turkey will still support the gas supplies diversification plan the European Commission conceived to carry directly to Europe 16 bcm of gas per year from Azerbaijan.
Southstream realization's start is not only a Putin Russia's victory on Europe, but also a German SPD one on the Greens.
As Gazeta Wyborcza reported, in Germany Southstream has been endorsed by social-democrat politician Helling Voscherau, who has been appointed by Putin as the Southstream pipeline's Head.
On the other hand, German Green leader Joschka Fischer supported Nabucco's realization.
Nabucco is one of the pipelines the European Commission planed to carry in Europe Azeri gas.
The other pipeline planed to carry in Europe gas from Azerbaijan is the Trans Adriatic Pipeline -TAP.
Once realized, TAP pipeline, which is planed from the border between Turkey and Greece to Italian Apulia Region via Albania, will make Italy the main Azerbaijan gas' hub in the EU.
Matteo Cazzulani
