Vladimir Putin on December 27, 2016, launched gas supply between the Krasnodar Region and the Crimea. The russian President participated in the ceremony via videoconference.
Putin announced the completion of work on linking to the Crimean gas transportation infrastructure at his annual news conference on December 23, 2016.
The natural gas flowing through the Crimea-Kuban pipeline is expected to supplant the Black Sea peninsula’s energy dependence on Ukraine, estimated to amount to nearly three-quarters of its needs.
«I want to congratulate all of the Crimean people, builders, everyone who worked on this very important and necessary for the whole country project. This is another very important decision for the long-term development of the Crimea», President Putin said during the ceremony to launch the gas pipeline. «The supplies of natural gas will make it possible to build 2 power plants with a capacity of 470 MW each. These plants will cover all current needs and create a promising foundation for the development of economy and social sphere of the Crimea and Sevastopol. During the upcoming four years, as many as 70 kilometres of main and local gas pipelines, as well as eight pumping stations will be built and reconstructed in the region,» Putin said.
Crimea seceded from Ukraine and reunified with Russia in March 2014, when more than 96 % of local voters supported the move in a referendum.
Kiev, as well as the European Union, the United States and their allies, did not recognize the move and consider the peninsula to be an occupied territory.
To read this news in Russian.
