Chizhov: EU realizes Turkish Stream is worth discussion

​The EU starts to realize that the Turkish Stream is worth discussion due to the project’s expensiveness and complicated basis, permanent representative of Russia in EU, V. Chizhov, said.

The South Eastern Europe, that initially planned to receive gas by South Stream, is now looking for alternatives, he thinks. “Unfortunately, the current Government of Bulgaria hasn’t determined its priorities. Having forced to failure South Stream, now it is trying to cover this gas by the Azeri gas shipped by TANAP via Turkey”, Mr. Chizhov said. The profitability of this project is doubtful as the gas pipeline should be laid from Azerbaijan via Georgia, entire Turkey and to Europe that presupposes the pipe’s construction via the Bosporus Bay and it is extremely difficult by technical reasons and very expensive.

Mr. Chizov also reminded of TAP: the gas pipeline will go from Greece to Italy and to the north.

“But if TAP is realized, what gas will it pump? If it is connected with Turkish Steam, it will be effective”, he said.