Turkey, Gazprom agree to accelerate Turkish Stream project

ISTANBUL

Turkish Energy Minister Berat Albayrak and a senior delegation from Russia’s Gazprom headed by company CEO Alexei Miller have discussed the upcoming moves to accelerate the Turkish Stream gas pipeline project, as well as the latest situation in the arbitration process over Russian gas, in a meeting in Istanbul late Aug. 31, said the ministry in a written statement.

“It was agreed to finalize the required permissions to realize the Turkish Stream project as soon as possible,” said the statement.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the Turkish Stream project with Russia would be realized swiftly following a thorough review, during a critical meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in August.

The Turkish Stream pipeline is intended to deliver gas from the Russian Black Sea coast to Turkey and on to Greece.

“In addition to the Turkish Stream project, the arbitration process, which was initiated by Turkey in line with its rights from the gas contract with Russia, and regional energy cooperation opportunities were discussed,” said the statement.

“Both sides voiced their determination to resolve the problems which have erupted, so as to pave the way to the arbitration process in a short term,” added the statement.