Russ Oil-Gas

2/5/2009 - Energy Current - MOSCOW: Gazprom hopes that the construction of the underwater and the German sections of the Nord Stream gas pipeline will begin in 2009, although this will depend on whether "obtaining the necessary permissions to build the gas pipeline outside the Russian territory are delayed," Gazprom Deputy Chairman Alexander Medvedev said on EuroNews television channel. Asked whether he believes the South Stream or Nabucco project will be carried out first, Medvedev replied, "Gazprom is not a sports team, and it is not seeking to cross the finish line as fast as possible." "Unlike Nabucco, we have everything, such as gas, contracts, technological equipment, and, finally, experience in building and operating gas pipelines," Medvedev said.