MOSCOW, December 6. /TASS/. Construction of an offshore segment of Turkish Stream gas pipeline will start in the second half of the next year, Chief Executive Officer of Gazprom Alexei Miller said on Tuesday.

"We confidently say now that construction of the offshore segment of Turkish Stream will start in the second half of 2017," Miller said.

"Both lines, the first one and the second one, will be put into service by 2019 year-end," he said. The construction contractor has not yet been selected for this project, Miller added.

 The feasibility study of entry points of Turkish Stream gas pipeline to EU territory is close to completion and the Turkish-Greek border is the priority destination, he went on.

"The border of Turkey and Greece is currently the priority destination of gas supplies to Europe. To this end gas transport facilities in Turkey with the length of about 500 km should be built. Gazprom has an agreement with Edison and Depa on the Poseidon project - this is one of option for continuation of gas deliveries over the Turkish Stream in the EU territory for end consumers," Miller said.

The Russian authorities announced the launch of the Turkish Stream pipeline in December 2014 as an alternative to the South Stream gas pipeline project. It was planned that the offshore section of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline would comprise four stretches with a capacity of 15.75 billion cubic meters each.