Gazprom, Turkey Agree to Start Building Onshore Section of TurkStream's Transit Leg
Gazprom said it has signed a protocol with Turkey's government on the construction of the onshore section of the transit string of the TurkStream natural gas pipeline meant to deliver Russian gas to European consumers through Greece and Bulgaria. An agreement on the terms and conditions of construction works was also signed with Turkish state-owned crude oil, natural gas pipelines and trading company Botas, Gazprom said in a statement on Saturday. According to Russian media reports, the agreement will allow Gazprom to build both the offshore part of the pipeline through Turkey's economic zone in the Black Sea, and the onshore part towards Bulgaria and Greece. The onshore section of TurkStream will be built by TurkAkim Gaz Tasima A.S., a joint venture that will be established on equal terms between Gazprom and Botas, the Russian company said in the statement. Last week, Russian energy minister Alexander Novak said Bulgaria is considering the possibility for the launch of a gas transportation hub on its territory and is again interested in the construction of a pipeline for the import of natural gas from Russia.