Russian natural gas giant Gazprom Friday said Romania confirmed its interest in the South Stream pipeline project. A Russian delegation met with Romanian officials Friday to discuss potential joint projects in the energy sector, particularly about setting up underground gas storage facilities in Romania.

"In addition, the Romanian party confirmed its interest to participate in the South Stream project," Gazprom said in a statement.

South Stream will have a length of 900 kilometers and is estimated to transport 63 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually. The project is seen as rival to the planned Nabucco pipeline, in which Romania already committed to participate.

Nabucco is scheduled to deliver approximately 31 billion cubic meters of gas annually from the Caspian Sea to Central Europe via Turkey and Romania, bypassing Russia.

Both projects are due for completion sometime in 2015.

Mediafax