The Slovak pipeline operator Eustream has designed the Eastring gas pipeline to increase energy security in the region of south-eastern Europe and make competition on the gas market more vibrant. While it continues to work on the pipeline connecting Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia, it is holding talks with several possible partners to make it economically attractive.
“Eastring is an ambitious and demanding project, the essence of which lays in the bi-directional interconnection of the area of Turkey with access to huge natural gas deposits, and places of the biggest consumption, the European Union,” Rastislav Ňukovič, general director of Eustreamtold the Hospodárske Noviny daily.

There are still many more steps until an investment decision is made, while Eustream expects the importance of this project to grow in the long term. This is why it is continuing in the project and discussing it with several potential partners.
“In particular, we are negotiating with a Turkish partner about the possibility of reserving a certain capacity, which would make the project economically attractive now,” said Ňukovič, not specifying the Turkish partner.

The feasibility study has shown that several alternatives are technically, as well as economically feasible, Ňukovič said in an earlier interview with Euractiv. The feasibility study has recommended a 1,208 km route while the price tag was estimated at €2.6 billion.
4. Nov 2019 at 22:17 | Compiled by Spectator staff