Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: South Strem pipeline on, or off?

  1. #1
    Hanna
    Guest

    South Strem pipeline on, or off?

    I don't understand what happened with this. Did Russia cancel South Stream because they got fed up with the politics of EU? Or is it back on again because Bulgaria signed the deal?

    This is totally insane.

    Forcing poor people in places like Bulgaria and Romania to pay for expensive gas just because Russia's gas isn't politically correct according to Washington. Same thing in Sweden - rather than get some Russian gas from North stream cheaply, they'd rather use more expensive domestic methods to produce gas. A relative of mine has a very important government job relating to gas and oil. He was told to avoid Russian gas at all cost, which proved very costly and was inconvenient.

    The EU has turned into a tragicomic circus who cares more about dancing to the tune of Washington, than its own least fortunate citizens, people who are already struggling to afford to heat their houses.

  2. #2
    Властелин
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Posts
    1,155
    Rep Power
    14
    You do realize that when the economy is driven by the politics, cheap stuff can become expensive stuff in days or even hours? Would it be better if the entire Europe depended on the energy resource from a single country, and the good will of the authorities of that country? Diversifying energy (gas/oil) strategies is definitely a right thing to do.

  3. #3
    Почтенный гражданин
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Posts
    339
    Rep Power
    14
    Да-да. Маразм крепчал. Евросоюз, вставляя палки в колеса "Южному потоку", наглядно продемонстрировал, что его экономика подчиняется политическим соображениям, причем даже не самого Евросоюза, а "старшего брата" из-за Атлантики. Начинать в таких условиях дорогостоящее строительство трубопровода по дну Черного моря - очень опрометчиво. Поэтому Россия будет диверсифицировать пути поставок и потребителей своего газа, это наверное "THE right thing to do".

  4. #4
    Почтенный гражданин UhOhXplode's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Oklahoma, USA
    Posts
    346
    Rep Power
    11
    South Stream isn't cancelled, it's only rerouted. Since the Trans-Balkan pipeline couldn't be built, the pipeline is being rerouted through Turkish Terretorial waters and will connect with the pipeline in Bulgaria.
    A competitive Turkish pipeline, backed by the EU and US, is in the works but it's delayed due to a lack of funding. But the Turkey-Russia Joint Economic Commission says that's a non-issue so the Turkish section of the South Stream project can start virtually anytime. Greece also has a stake in the project and Serbia and Hungary are totally solid on completing the pipeline.
    So tbh, I don't see anything standing in the way of South Stream now.
    Turkey's new involvement in South Stream

    Also, I totally agree that Russia diversifying it's pipeline routes and customers is the right thing to do. So even when South Stream is finished, the sales to non-Russian-Friendly countries should be considered a bonus and NOT reliable income.
    It's never a good call to base an economy on unreliable "partners" (for gas, oil, or anything else - imports or exports).
    Лучше смерть, чем бесчестие! Тем временем: Вечно молодой, Вечно пьяный. - Смысловые Галлюцинации, Чартова дюжина 2015!
    Пожалуйста, исправьте мои ошибки. Спасибо.

  5. #5
    Hanna
    Guest
    Ok but is South Stream actually cancelled then?

    Bulgaria suddenly decided to sign the agreement....

    Or was that just because they realised that Russia found a workaround with Turkey (that was genius).

    And isn't it an irony that nobody every complained about buying gas and oil from the USSR, was always done in my childhood despite we were not allies of the USSR. But it was business and convenient and the arrangement worked well for everybody. Now suddenly we can't buy gas from democratic modern Russia.

  6. #6
    Почтенный гражданин UhOhXplode's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Oklahoma, USA
    Posts
    346
    Rep Power
    11
    Quote Originally Posted by Hanna View Post
    Ok but is South Stream actually cancelled then?

    Bulgaria suddenly decided to sign the agreement....

    Or was that just because they realised that Russia found a workaround with Turkey (that was genius).

    And isn't it an irony that nobody every complained about buying gas and oil from the USSR, was always done in my childhood despite we were not allies of the USSR. But it was business and convenient and the arrangement worked well for everybody. Now suddenly we can't buy gas from democratic modern Russia.
    South Stream is not cancelled. The only thing that Bulgaria was blocking is the underwater pipeline. But they did agree to connect with the pipeline that will run under Turkish terretorial waters. The part of the South Stream pipeline, running through Bulgaria, was never cancelled.
    So all Russia has to do now is build the underwater pipeline, along the Turkish coastline, and Bulgaria will allow it to be hooked up to the pipeline running through Bulgaria.
    So yeah, there will be a South Stream pipeline running through Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Hungary to supply gas to southern Europe.

    The EU is already having serious economic issues so I really don't get why they risked losing the cheap gas from Russia. It was a really brain-dead thing to do.
    And there will probaly be even more economic issues caused by the sanctions since Russia is becoming more self-sustaining and moving it's economy eastward. The sanctions damaged Europe and they didn't change Russia's policies so the sanctions were fail-fail.
    Лучше смерть, чем бесчестие! Тем временем: Вечно молодой, Вечно пьяный. - Смысловые Галлюцинации, Чартова дюжина 2015!
    Пожалуйста, исправьте мои ошибки. Спасибо.

  7. #7
    Hanna
    Guest
    But media says it's cancelled and will be replaced by this new Turkey connection to Greece (interesting, last I heard, Turkey and Greece hate each other....)

    So those long term enemies can cooperate but EU can't work with Russia. What a sick situation.

  8. #8
    Почтенный гражданин
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    423
    Rep Power
    9
    ЕК получила подтверждение Новака, что проект "Южный поток" остановлен |
    "Вице-президент связался сегодня с министром энергетики РФ Александром Новаком, чтобы обсудить с ним планы России в отношении проекта "Южный поток". Министр Новак подтвердил вице-президенту Шевчовичу, что Россия больше не будет реализовывать проект "Южный поток"
    Bulgaria maybe wants to continue but Russia does not.
    Now its up to Bulgaria if they really want it they need to make an offer that Russia could not resist but so far Bulgaria would prefer to kiss Germany's behind.

  9. #9
    Hanna
    Guest
    The Bulgarians need ALL investment they can get, and job opportunities. There are no jobs - so many Bulgarians are working abroad, Huge poverty, an enormous social problem with the gypsies. It's incomprehensible that they botched this fantastic opportunity to make money as a transit land, and get cheap gas for themselves.

  10. #10
    Почтенный гражданин
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    423
    Rep Power
    9
    Quote Originally Posted by Hanna View Post
    The Bulgarians need ALL investment they can get, and job opportunities.
    No doubt. But the EU (aka Germany) does not care about Bulgarians. Moreover Bulgarian government does not care about Bulgarians.
    Germany made them choose between Russia and the EU. They chose the EU. Now it's a pay day.

  11. #11
    Hanna
    Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by hddscan View Post
    No doubt. But the EU (aka Germany) does not care about Bulgarians. Moreover Bulgarian government does not care about Bulgarians.

    Yes, that's my impression. A rich country can maybe afford the luxury of rejecting income and opportunities because of political principles. But first of all, this isn't politics or ideology! This is just gas & energy for goodness sake! Perhaps Germany can afford to play games like this. But Bulgaria? Apparently they would rather have old people freeze to death from cold, than annoy Brussels or Washington. Pathetic!

  12. #12
    Почтенный гражданин
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    423
    Rep Power
    9
    Quote Originally Posted by Hanna View Post
    Perhaps Germany can afford to play games like this. But Bulgaria? Apparently they would rather have old people freeze to death from cold, than annoy Brussels or Washington. Pathetic!
    It happened before.
    The US administration "hired" its most trusted lapdogs (Poland and Baltics) to bark against Nord Stream.
    But as you know they have failed, because Germany needed it badly.
    Polish Foreign Minister slams Nord Stream pipeline :: The Baltic Course | Baltic States news & analytics
    Russia accuses Estonia of "crude politicization" over Nord Stream
    Analysis: Estonia will not allow the Nord Stream pipeline on its seabed | Moldova.org
    Diplomaatia – Nord Stream: Estonia’s Lost Battle

    This time Germany is pretty much safe, so it could play along with Washington to prevent the South Stream from happening.

Similar Threads

  1. Dark Greetings from South Africa
    By Sibernetika in forum Introduce Yourself
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: September 13th, 2011, 09:38 AM
  2. Abkhazia and South Ossetia
    By Hanna in forum Politics
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: August 11th, 2011, 07:26 PM
  3. miss south carolina
    By Lt. Columbo in forum Fun Stuff
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: September 7th, 2007, 03:36 PM
  4. Anyone want to know anything about South Africa
    By mooman in forum General Discussion
    Replies: 70
    Last Post: June 7th, 2006, 09:43 AM
  5. Russian teacher in South Africa
    By in forum Tutors Directory
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: September 14th, 2005, 11:27 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  


Russian Lessons                           

Russian Tests and Quizzes            

Russian Vocabulary