Wednesday, September 7, 2016

“Turkish stream” is back on a year ago – Kommersant

“Gazprom” has achieved initial success in the resumption of “Turkish stream” received from Ankara had once agreed permission for the construction of one of the tube and design surveys for other part. As a result, the company is now located at the same point, that at the beginning of last summer. However, these permissions is not enough to build even one entire gas pipeline.

Turkey issued to “Gazprom” the first authorization for the project pipeline “Turkish Stream”, the company said yesterday. “This reflects the Turkish government’s interest in the project” Turkish Stream “and indicates the transition to its implementation”, – said the head of “Gazprom” Alexey Miller. Thus, the first time in more than a year, the project has been achieved some progress.

However, it is relative. According to “Kommersant”, issued permits concern the laying of the gas pipeline South Stream canceled in Turkey’s exclusive economic zone (most of the “Turkish stream” should be laid on South Stream route). In addition, Turkish authorities re-issued “Gazprom” permission for research in the economic zone and territorial waters for the area of ​​Turkey, “Turkish stream” for which will have to develop a new route through the Black Sea (from the point at which the South Stream was supposed to turn aside Bulgaria). These permissions “Gazprom” has already had to June of last year, but they have been revoked or expired Ankara.

already obtained a monopoly of the documents is not enough to complete the construction. “Gazprom” must obtain a permit for the installation of the offshore portion of the pipe, the approval of the impact assessment on the environment, as well as solve the problem of the land part of the project. According to “Kommersant”, it has not yet decided who will build a section of about 100 km from the exit point of the gas pipeline on the land to the Greek border. We consider the creation of a joint venture with a local state company Botas, Botas will build a pipe yourself. This question is not as important for “Gazprom” in the context of the first line, designed for the Turkish market, but will have a value for the second string for transit to Europe. If the site is to build Botas, “Gazprom” will have to negotiate with her on transit terms.

While the “Gazprom” received yesterday authorization had already been prepared, and their speedy extradition was announced immediately after the meeting of the presidents of the two countries on August 9, the case moved only after a meeting between Alexey Miller and the head Berat Albayrak Turkish Ministry of Energy last week. According to the source “b”, the Turkish side wanted to discuss a discount on gas, which “Gazprom” is not provided in the past year, because of what Botas filed a lawsuit to arbitration. “Gazprom”, however, no specific promises not given to the Turks.

The issue permits for “Turkish stream” political rather believes director of the Institute of Turkish energy markets and policy Volkan Ozdemir. While in the past the Turkish authorities have used this issue as a lever to gain advantage on the price of gas, the expert believes that now Ankara will not abuse it. “I do not think that the Turkish government is very strong position”, – he said. According to Mr Özdemir, the first line of “Turkish stream” will almost certainly be built, and the fate of a dispute over the price of gas can be associated with the negotiations on the configuration of the second line.

Yuri Barsukov


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