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Turkish Stream gas pipe project to stimulate Ankara-Athens relations — Russian envoy

The Turkish Stream gas pipeline will run 660 km along the old corridor of the South Stream project abandoned by Russia and 250 km in the new corridor towards Turkey’s European part

BRUSSELS, May 5. /TASS/. The Turkish Stream gas pipeline intended to pump Russian natural gas via Turkey to Europe’s Greek border may become a powerful stimulus for Ankara and Athens to strengthen their relations, Russia’s Permanent Envoy to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov said on Tuesday.

"Russia’s Turkish Stream gas pipeline may become a strong stimulus for closer relations between Turkey and Greece. Its route from the Turkish territory to Greece should be rather called the Greek Stream," the Russian envoy said.

Turkish Stream gas project

Gazprom and Turkey’s Botas Petroleum Pipeline Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding on December 1, 2014, envisaging the construction of a gas pipeline across the Black Sea to Turkey.

The Turkish Stream gas pipeline will have a capacity of 63 billion cubic meters, of which 50 billion cubic meters will be supplied to a new gas hub on the Turkish-Greek border.

Russian President Putin announced on December 1 the project to build the South Stream gas pipeline was closed due to the European Union’s unconstructive approach to cooperation in that sphere, including Bulgaria’s decision to stop the construction of the pipeline’s stretch on its territory.

Instead, Russia will build a gas pipeline to Turkey where a gas hub on the border with Europe will be created, Putin said.

South Stream was Gazprom's global infrastructure project designed to build a gas pipeline with a capacity of 63 billion cubic meters across the Black Sea to Southern and Central Europe in order to diversify natural gas export routes and eliminate transit risks.

The Turkish Stream gas pipeline will run 660 km (410 miles) along the old corridor of the South Stream project abandoned by Russia and 250 km (155 miles) in the new corridor towards Turkey’s European part.

Russia’s President Putin said in April after a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Moscow that Greece’s participation in the Turkish Stream gas pipeline project would allow the Hellenic Republic to become a major European gas distribution center.

"The new route will cover Europeans’ requirements for fuel and allow Greece to become a major energy distribution center on the continent, help raise considerable investment in the economy and create additional jobs," the Russian president said.