Turkey is considering taking an equity in Russia’s Turkish Stream pipeline project, according to its outgoing Energy Minister Taner Yildiz who was speaking as his compatriots got ready to vote in today’s general election. “We are talking about partnership and ownership here. We need to set up the mechanism very carefully for this. We are looking to share the costs,” said the minister, who is to step down next week.
The Turkish Stream project is Russia’s alternative to the $40 bn South Stream pipeline that was supposed to run through Bulgaria – but which it abandoned in the face of objections from the EU – and would instead run across Turkey to its border with Greece. On completion, its four pipelines would be able to transport 63bn m³ of gas each year. “Once the information regarding the coordinates of the pipeline are received, the permits granted and the talks finalised, construction could begin by the end of the month,” he added.
Yildiz also confirmed that Turkey is looking to dilute its independence on Russian gas and that a number of its private-sector oil and gas concerns had agreed to buy up to 2 bn m³ of Turkmen gas via Iran in a swap deal.
Turkey’s outgoing Energy Minister Taner Yildiz