Russia’s Tu-154 Crashed Seven Minutes After Take Off – Source

Russia’s Tu-154 aircraft crashed in the Black Sea just under seven minutes after takeoff from the resort city of Sochi, a source in law enforcement agencies told RIA Novosti Sunday.

Russia ready to implement gas pipeline project similar to South Stream — Kremlin

Russia is ready to implement a project for building a gas pipeline under the Black Sea similar to the South Stream project if the European Commission shows interest, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.

Bulgaria bans camping and parking 100m from beach shoreline

Bulgaria’s National Assembly has approved the second reading of amendments to the Black Sea Coast Act that ban camping and parking 100 metres from beach shoreline, although sleeping on the beach for a night will be allowed.

Persistent snowfall leads to loss of 4 lives, curtails movement across Turkey

Snow and cold weather continue to adversely affect Turkey, with heavy snowfall leading to traffic accidents and the closure of many schools and roads in rural areas across the country on Friday, the Cihan news agency reported.

Russia's Gazprom may build LNG plant on the Black Sea. Russia plans to triple sales of LNG on world market

Russian gas giant Gazprom is studying economic viability of the construction of an LNG plant on the Black Sea, the company said on Monday.

Bulgaria issues yellow alert over heatwave

 Bulgaria issued a yellow warning on Wednesday over the high temperatures, according to the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology with the Bulgarian Academy of Science.

Dead dolphins again wash up on shores of Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast

Summer 2015 is again seeing numbers of dead dolphins washing up on the shore of Bulgaria’s Black Sea coastline, with violence suspected as the cause of death in some cases, but as in all previous years, there is no clarity on what causes the phenomenon.

Vessels blocked on Danube due to low water level

Some 60 vessels have been blocked on Danube River after the water level dropped by half due to severe drought in upstream countries along the river.

Russian firm gives Turkish Stream gas pipeline details

Detailed information concerning the Turkish Stream gas pipeline, the latest project to carry Russian gas to Turkey via the Black Sea before it finally reaches Europe, has been presented at the 26th World Gas Conference in Paris.

Bulgaria to send delegation to Moscow to discuss South Stream (reports)

Bulgaria’s Cabinet plans to send a government delegation to Moscow on December 19 to discuss the prospect of reviving the South Stream gas pipeline project, Russian and Bulgarian media quoted Economy Minister Bozhidar Loukarski as saying in Belgrade on December 16, following meetings with Serbian officials.

Bulgaria ready to place gas hub for European consumers

Bulgaria is ready to place on its territory a gas distribution European-scale station, instead of the South Stream project, according to a verbatim account of a meeting of the Bulgarian government on Wednesday.

Turkey’s energy minister to negotiate gas discount with Russia ahead of Putin’s Ankara visit

Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yıldız is expected to meet Gazprom Deputy Chairman Alexander Medvedev to discuss a potential revision of gas prices from Russia to Turkey Nov. 25, ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the country on Dec. 1.

Mediterranean, North Atlantic prepares for UN-backed tsunami warning system test -- (Simulations will be carried out between 28 and 30 October)

UN, 23 October 2014 – Some 20 nations with coastlines on the North Atlantic, and Mediterranean and Black Seas are set to participate in a United Nations-supervised tsunami warning exercise to improve their ability to respond to an alert and enhance regional coordination in the event of a disaster.

In a press statement released today, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) – the body coordinating the warning test since its first implementation in 2005 – reported that four tsunami simulations will be carried out between 28 and 30 October in an effort to assess the overall reactivity of countries participating in the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System for the North-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and connected seas (NEAMTWS).

South Stream Pipeline More Urgent Amid Ukraine Crisis. – Russian Ambassador to EU

The South Stream gas pipeline project, currently under development, has become more urgent amid Ukrainian warnings that Russian gas flows to Europe could be halted, Russian Ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov told RIA Novosti on Wednesday. 

“I believe the relevance of the South Stream project has risen amid the Ukrainian crisis, because we have already heard not threats, but hints from Ukrainian authorities, including interim Prime Minister Yatsenuk, of yet another attempt to disrupt the transit of Russian gas,” Chizhov said.

Gazprom Seeks Access to Crimean Oil and Gas Deposits

MOSCOW, March 18 (RIA Novosti) – Russian energy giant Gazprom is seeking access to oil and gas deposits in the territorial waters of Crimea, which became Russian territory on Tuesday.
“Gazprom was the first to file its request,” Rustam Temirgaliyev, the region’s first deputy prime minister, said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
The Crimean parliament, which refused to recognize the new Ukrainian government and held a popular vote on secession and reunification with Russia on Sunday, ruled on Monday that all Ukrainian state property in the region is to become the property of Crimea.

Bulgaria Gives Green Light to Sea Segment of South Stream

The Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Waters has approved the environmental impact assessment for the sea segment of the South Stream gas pipeline.

The conclusion of the report is that the Russian-sponsored project would not affect significantly the environment.

The news was announced by the company South Stream Transport, which hopes to obtain all needed permits and start construction in mid-2014.

Bulgaria Govt Extends Oil, Gas Exploration Permit of Melrose Resources

Bulgaria's government has extended the oil and gas exploration permit of Scottish Melrose Resources for the Galata field in the Black Sea block by 166 days.
The oil and gas exploration permit was awarded to Melrose Resources in 2011, according to a media statement of the press office of the Council of Ministers.
Melrose Resources undertakes to conduct exploration activities in compliance with the working program approved by the Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism during the extension of the permit.

Is South Stream too hard to handle for Gazprom?

The South Stream pipeline will be built via Bulgaria, ending in the north of Italy. The Russian gas giant has managed to obtain the consent of all the countries, through the territories of which the pipeline is going to be built. The construction may begin as early as in December of this year. Experts point out that the financial requirements of the project may undermine Gazprom's financial situation.

Bulgaria was the last to join the project. Last week, the head of Gazprom, Alexey Miller, and Bulgarian Energy Holding CEO, Michael Andonov, in the presence of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, signed the final investment agreement. The document has approved the construction of the Bulgarian section of South Stream gas pipeline.