MOSCOW, November 28. /TASS/. The pricing for additional Russian gas supplies to Turkey has to be thoroughly analyzed, including in view of the situation on the Turkish natural gas market, President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with Anadolu news agency on Friday ahead of his visit to Turkey.
“We have a clear understanding of how important Russian energy resources are for Turkey’s socioeconomic development. That is why we always respond positively to any appeals regarding Russian natural gas exports,” the Russian leader said.
“In October, we reached an agreement in principle on increasing the annual supply through the Blue Stream pipeline from 16 to 19 billion cubic meters and on the engineering works that thus need to be done. Our experts keep a close check on this matter,” Putin said.
“As regards the pricing for extra gas volumes, this issue needs to be thoroughly analyzed by the companies concerned, including in view of the situation on the Turkish natural gas market,” the Russian leader said.
Over the last decades, energy has been playing the role of a 'locomotive' in Russian-Turkish trade and economic cooperation, Putin said.
“In terms of volume, Turkey is the second largest buyer of Russian natural gas after Germany, which is delivered through the 'Western corridor’ with transit through Ukraine, Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria, and through the Blue Stream gas pipeline,” Putin said.
Last year, Russian gas supplies to Turkey reached 26.6 billion cubic meters and this year will most likely exceed this amount, he said.
As part of diversification of its economic partnership with Turkey, Moscow intends to jointly identify strategic areas for bilateral cooperation, including high technologies and nuclear energy, the Russian leader said.
“In December 2010, an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in construction and operation of nuclear power plant at Akkuyu in Turkey was signed,” Putin said.
“This large-scale project, worth about $20 billion, is being implemented on schedule and will strengthen Turkey’s energy security and create new jobs, including through the involvement of Turkish companies.”
“As a matter of fact, a whole new promising industry is being created in your country and we are helping you train highly skilled specialists for it. Since 2011, four groups totaling more than 250 students have been sent from Turkey to Russia for training,” the Russian president said.