Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec.12
By Ilkin Izzet - Trend:
Projects of Trans Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and the construction of a new gas pipeline from Russia to Turkey (the so-called Turkish stream) may become complementary, the Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Ismail Alper Coskun told reporters Dec.12.
Speaking about the expansion of cooperation between Turkey and Russia in the gas sector, the ambassador said that this agreement has been reached at the level of intentions for now. "We will work on this issue, the decision on which depends on the profitability of the project for both parties," he said. "Such projects are implemented after the establishment of their cost-effectiveness."
However, he ruled out the possibility of easing steps of Turkey in the direction towards TANAP project implementation.
Coskun said that the work within TANAP is implemented in accordance with the plans and in concordance with all partners.
During the negotiations in Turkey last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that under the current conditions, as well as due to the EU unconstructive position, Russia can't continue the implementation of the South Stream project. Later, CEO of Russia's Gazprom's Alexey Miller said that the South Stream project has been shut down.
Earlier, Gazprom and Turkey's BOTAS state pipeline company signed a memorandum of understanding on construction of an offshore gas pipeline across the Black Sea towards Turkey with the annual capacity of 63 billion cubic meters of gas per year.
Under this agreement, it is planned to supply 14 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey and the remaining part - nearly 50 billion cubic meters of gas - to the Turkish-Greek border.
Russian Deputy Minister of Energy Kirill Molodtcov said December 11 that the design of the underwater section of the gas pipeline from Russia to Turkey may take a year or a year and a half.
The negotiations on the construction of a new gas pipeline between Turkey and Russia may start in 2019-2020, respectively.
Russia is the main supplier of natural gas to Turkey. Around 26.7 billion cubic meters of gas was supplied to Turkey from Russia in 2013 and it is planned to increase this figure to 30 billion cubic meters in 2014.
On Nov.19, Turkey and Algeria signed a new contract for the period of ten years on supply of gas from Algeria. Turkey also has contracts with Azerbaijan, Iran and Nigeria on the purchase of natural gas.
Edited by CN