6 Aug 2009 16:08

Shmatko: only

ANKARA. Aug 6 (Interfax) - There is no reason to postpone South Stream, the project to build a gas pipeline across the Black Sea from Russia to Southern Europe, Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said.

"I don't see any reason for postponing project implementation. I estimate that possibility to be minimal," Shmatko told journalists in Ankara ahead of the ceremony for signing Russian-Turkish agreements.

Shmatko acknowledged there might be serious technical challenges to construction of South Stream "of which we are not aware."