Ukraine is ready to propose a project on expanding its own gas transportation system as an alternative to the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said.
"Recently we’ve had another idea. This is a definite alternative to South Stream: the modernization of the system of our southern gas pipelines, which will allow the supply of the same volume of gas that Russia plans to supply through South Stream to the same point in the European Union, namely Burgas in Bulgaria," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday.
The premier said that the project is currently being agreed on. "We have submitted it [the project], expressed our readiness [to realize it], and now we are in talks," Azarov said.
The head of government also said that Ukraine is constantly in talks with representatives from the European Union concerning the project for the modernization of the Ukrainian gas transportation system.
"We are constantly in talks [on this]. The EU is interested [in this], but let’s remember that we have been dealing with this issue for only four months. We have several meetings on the issue at the level of high-ranking officials every month. This shows the EU’s interest in the deal," the premier said.
