Russia, Turkey set legal framework for TurkStream project

TurkStream project moved further ahead as an agreement between the government of Russia and the government of Turkey was signed in Istanbul, setting out the legal framework for the project.

The document provides for the construction of two strings of the gas pipeline from Russia to Turkey across the Black Sea, as well as an onshore string for gas transit to Turkey’s border with neighboring countries, Gazprom said in a statement.

Gazprom’s head, Alexey Miller added that due to the importance of the project, and its significance to the reliability of gas supply to Turkey, southern and southeastern Europe, the agreement has been prepared in a short period of time.

First permits for the project have been issued by the Turkish authorities at the beginning of September. At the end of September Gazprom received a survey permit for two strings of the TurkStream gas pipeline’s offshore section in Turkey’s territorial waters.

To remind, in December 2014, Gazprom and Turkey’s Botas signed the memorandum of understanding on constructing the TurkStream gas pipeline.

The pipeline will run 660 kilometers along the old route of South Stream and cover 250 kilometers of a new route toward the European part of Turkey.

It is planned that the first gas pipeline string with the transportation capacity of 15.75 billion cubic meters, will be used exclusively for gas supplies to the Turkish market.

The annual gas pipeline capacity will total 63 billion cubic meters of gas, consisting of four strings, according to Gazprom.

LNG World News Staff