Construction of TurkStream natural gas pipeline’s receiving terminal starts

ISTANBUL

The South Stream Transport B.V. has announced the start of the construction of TurkStream Offshore Gas Pipeline’s receiving terminal.

In a statement on Jan. 17, the company said that with the start of the onshore construction in Turkey, the project is now being implemented in three construction areas: Onshore Russia, onshore Turkey and offshore in the Black Sea.

Preparatory works

“Preparatory works for the Receiving Terminal have been well underway for some time. Since 2015, surveys have been conducted to identify the best location for the facility. The results have been incorporated in the Environmental Impact Assessment [EIA], which was approved by Turkish authorities in September 2017. All necessary permits to prepare the area for construction are in place,” read the statement.

The contract for the construction of the receiving terminal was awarded to Petrofac in September 2017.

Petrofac is currently mobilizing, and has contracted Tekfen, one of Turkey’s leading construction companies, as its main subcontractor, according to the statement.

The works involve the preparation of the area where the receiving terminal will be located in Turkey’s Thrace region, near the town of Kıyıköy, the company said.

“In line with the requirements of the Turkish legislation, South Stream Transport B.V. has obtained the forestry permit and paid the necessary fees to the Forestry Directorate which includes the re-forestation fee,” it added.

On top of the re-forestation fee, South Stream Transport also confirmed its commitment to perform additional replanting in coordination with the Forestry Directorate.

“An independent assessment will be commissioned to determine the type, number and location of trees to be replanted,” it said.

Construction in Russia, Black Sea

Meanwhile, the construction of the landfill facilities on the Russian side of the Black Sea, near the city of Anapa, is reaching the final stages of construction, which is expected to be completed in 2018, according to the statement.

The Allseas vessel Pioneering Spirit is working on the two offshore pipelines. The first line is currently being laid all the way up to the Turkish shore.