Russia's Gazprom on Friday began delivering natural gas to Croatia and Hungary via the new Balkan Stream pipeline, which is a continuation of the TurkStream pipeline and gas transmission systems in Southeast Europe.

“Supplies via this route were made possible thanks to a new gas trunkline built in Hungary by FGSZ Ltd., as well as the completion of expansion of the national gas transmission systems in Bulgaria and Serbia where operators Bulgartransgaz EAD and GASTRANS d.o.o. Novi Sad had brought compressor stations onstream,” Gazprom said in a press release.

“TurkStream is an export gas pipeline stretching from Russia to Turkey across the Black Sea. Its design capacity is 31.5 billion cubic meters of gas per year. TurkStream is intended for delivering gas to Turkey, as well as to southern and southeastern Europe through Turkish territory,” the press release said.