More than 45 pct of 2nd line of TurkStream completed: Company official

ANKARA-Anadolu Agency

More than 45 percent of the second line of the TurkStream natural gas pipeline project is completed, Aslı Eren, the project’s spokesperson, said Aug. 8.

Esen told journalists at a news conference that the giant construction vessel, Pioneering Spirit, which is continuing works in the Black Sea, has finished around 46 percent of the pipe-laying for the second line as of Aug. 7.

“The vessel completed 435 kilometers of pipe-laying, and with the first line 1,369 kilometers of pipes were laid in total,” she said.

The project consists of two lines, each with a length of 930 kilometers and a total capacity of 31.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year.

She detailed that the deep-water offshore construction of the first line of the TurkStream was completed at the end of April to serve Turkey with 15.75 billion cubic meters of capacity, while the second line plans to transfer 15.75 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe.

The construction of other supporting infrastructure for the project with the receiving terminal in Turkey’s northwestern town of Kiyikoy is ongoing, she said, adding that its function is as a controlling station and is not for gas storage.

Local forestry resources

Matteo Veronesi, TurkStream’s permit manager, who also spoke at the news conference, said environmental impact has been considered in every aspect of the project.

Veronesi said the South Stream Transport B.V., which is responsible for the construction of the gas pipeline’s offshore section, is committed to minimizing impact to local forestry resources.

“The project area was selected so that it doesn’t have an impact on Longoz forests and protected areas. The Longoz forests are located 15 kilometers to the north, as specified in the TurkStream EIA Report. In line with the requirements of the Turkish legislation, the company paid the forestry permits fees, which include reforestation fees,” he said.

“In addition, the company commissioned an independent study to determine the approach to afforestation from the Istanbul State University Forestry faculty. Subsequently, we signed an agreement with the General Directorate of Forestry and Turkish BOTAŞ for the implementation of the afforestation scheme,” Veronesi explained.

“Although the definitive number of trees to be replanted will depend on the scheme to be implemented by the Forestry Directorate, we anticipate an afforestation ratio of minimum 1 to 5. This means that at least five trees will be replanted for every tree lost,” he said.

He also highlighted that ecology protection is a top priority for them.