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Turkish Stream first line launch postponed due to political crisis in Turkey — Gazprom

The Turkish Stream project includes possible construction of 4 pipelines with a pumping capacity of 16 bln cubic meters, and an estimated cost of one line at €3.2 bln

MOSCOW, September 14. /TASS/. The launch date of the first line of the Turkish Stream project is postponed due to the political crisis in Turkey, Russian gas giant Gazprom deputy CEO Alexander Medvedev said Monday.

According to him, Turkey has an interim government now so, obviously, the signing of the intergovernmental agreement is postponed. Thus, the construction of the first line of the project could be postponed.

Gazprom and Turkey's Botas signed an agreement on increase of Russian gas deliveries to Turkey on December 1. Furthermore, Gazprom granted a discount to Turkey’s gas importers, including Bosporus Gas and Shell, after painstaking talks.

Turkey bought 27.3 bln cubic meters from Gazprom in 2014, largely through its state-owned company Botas.

Earlier this month, Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in a television interview that the construction of the first line of the Turkish Stream would begin in late June. Earlier the start of the construction was planned for "early June." In any case, to start laying pipes, Russia and Turkey need to sign an intergovernmental agreement regulating prospecting activities in the territorial area of Turkey.

Russia is going to cease supplying gas to Europe through the Ukrainian gas transportation system by 2019. Therefore, South Stream will run to Turkey before reaching the waters of Bulgaria, and then will be routed by land to the border with Greece.

The Turkish Stream project includes possible construction of 4 pipelines with a pumping capacity of 16 bln cubic meters. The estimated cost of one line is 3.2 bln