Gazprom agrees with route, proposed by Ankara

Route of Turkish Stream - the gas pipeline, which will replace he South Stream and allow Gazprom to abandon the gas transit through the Ukraine – has become clearer. Gazprom has agreed with the proposal of Turkey to construct the gas pipeline under the Black Sea directly to the European part of the country. The marine part will be built by Gazprom, and a small land section will be created together. Gazprom is going to launch the first line of Turkish Stream at the end of 2016. According to analysts, these terms are feasible, but the main problem is to find funding in terms of sanctions and falling oil prices.

Gazprom has agreed with Turkey on the basic parameters of the Turkish Stream project, which should replace South Stream. By results of yesterday's talks between head of Gazprom Alexei Miller and the Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz "western" route across the Black Sea in the corridor, previously approved for South Stream, with a turn in the last 250 km of the sea not to Bulgaria, but to Turkey, was chosen. The pipe will reach land in the European part of Turkey. Thus, the option, on which Ankara insisted, was chosen, although Gazprom inclined to the idea of laying the new pipe parallel to Blue Stream, then the sea part of the project could be cheaper. According to the source of the Kommersant, primarily the fact that it can be implemented faster, using achievements and materials for South Stream, played in favor of "Western" version. Today, Gazprom will send an application for a survey for laying the last 250 km of the sea section to the Turkish authorities.