The authorities of Turkey have issued the first permits for the construction of a high-capacity gas pipeline Turkish Stream, Gazprom said in a statement on September 7, 2016.
Gazprom pointed out that that was a result of negotiations, which were held last week between Gazprom CEO, Alexey Miller, and the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey, Berat Albayrak, the parties agreed to complete all the necessary preparations for the start of the project as soon as possible.
«Reception of first permits is positive news for Gazprom. This move of the Turkish side reflects the Turkish government's interest in the project and indicates the transition to its implementation,» Miller said as quoted by the statement.
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak previously said that Moscow was planning to negotiate and sign the draft intergovernmental agreement in October 2016, as well as beginning construction of the first leg of the Turkish Stream pipeline after receiving all the necessary permits for the construction and exploration in Turkey’s territorial waters.
These measures taken by the Turkish authorities mean the beginning of a stage of practical implementation of the project.
In accordance with it, 4 strings of the gas pipeline with the length of 910 km will be laid under the Black Sea from Russia to Turkey. Investments in this ambitious construction project will total €11,4 bln.
During his visit to Turkey in December 2014, Putin announced that Moscow had scrapped the South Stream pipeline project that would have carried Russian natural gas to Europe via Bulgaria, replacing it with the planned Turkish Stream pipeline.
The Turkish Stream is designed to carry natural gas to Europe over the Turkish-Greek border. The process of negotiations have accelerated and more concrete steps have begun to be taken by both countries since the meeting of Erdoğan and Putin in St. Petersburg on Aug. 9, 2016.
