Turkish Stream IGA to be signed in October

Russia has submitted to Turkey its road map for building the Turkish Stream project, energy minister Alexander Novak told Russia 24 TV channel. The aim is to sign an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) in October, he said.

“We have already prepared a road map – a detailed plan and schedule of events for construction of infrastructure and submitted it to the Turkish side. In the near future we will work out this issue with them to sign this road map,” he said. The plan is to start work on the first 15.75bn m³/yr string of the Black Sea pipeline project as soon as all required permits are received. He added that the sides have agreed to create a working group to build the Turkish Stream.

Russia's energy minister, Alexander Novak (Credit: government)

A working group will prepare and negotiate the draft of the intergovernmental agreement on construction of at least one string along the Black Sea bed to Turkey with possible expansion of a second string. The first string could be built in the second half of 2019. Further strings remain possibilities.

The Turkish Stream project was announced by the Russian government as replacement of the South Stream on December 1, 2014. It was planned that the offshore section of the Turkish Stream will have four equal strings and 660 km of the line will be a part of the old South Stream corridor. The remaining 250 km will be built towards the European part of Turkey, reported Tass agency.

Russia’s president Vladimir Putin said there were no doubts that Turkish Stream will happen and work could start soon. He was speaking at a joint press conference with Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan August 9.

Putin said that the second part of the Turkish Stream project relating to gas export to Europe would have to be negotiated with the European Commission. 

Azerbaijan desk