Russia Sends Draft Intergovernmental Deal On First Turkish Stream Line To Turkey

- The Russian Energy Ministry has sent a draft intergovernmental agreement on the “Turkish stream” project to the Turkish side, a source in the ministry said on July 28.

According to the source, it was “an intergovernmental agreement on the project’s first line with a capacity of 15.75 billion cubic meters [bcm].”

The source said the decision on the phased implementation of the project was made at the head-of-state level in Russia and Turkey. “Russia is ready for a phased implementation of the project.”

Thus, the parties are currently negotiating the documents on the first line of the Turkish stream, which will supply Russian gas exclusively for the needs of the country. An intergovernmental agreement on lines two to four of the Turkish stream, which are expected to transfer gas to EU countries, will be included in a separate document, the source said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Dec. 1, 2014, the project to build the South Stream gas pipeline was closed. Instead, Russia will build a gas pipeline to Turkey where a gas hub on the border with Europe will be created, Putin said.

The Turkish Stream will serve as an alternative to the South Stream gas pipeline project abandoned by Russia. The larger part of the Turkish Stream pipeline will run across the Black Sea and coincide with the previously approved South Stream route.

(Map)