ANKARA, March 18. /TASS/. The Turkish Stream gas pipeine will not become a substitute to the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), Turkey's Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Taner Yildiz said during the opening of the 14th International oil and gas conference.
"The opinion of the EU will not affect the implementation of the energy 'road map' of Turkey. We are ready to provide assistance in searching for a compromise between the EU and Russia. Although it's not up to us to look for a solution," the Minister said.
He also noted Turkey and the EU decided to start an "energy dialogue at the highest level". These negotiations are expected to touch upon the issue of gas purchasing through TANAP.
When it comes to energy co-operation with Russia, Yildiz mentioned the recently agreed 10.25% discount for Russian gas could save Turkey's Botas energy company $1 billion in equivalent.
Turkey imported 27 billion cubic meters of gas in 2014.