Erdogan Orders to Promptly Start Work on Gas Hub Idea

ANKARA (Sputnik) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that he, as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin, has ordered to promptly start work on the gas hub idea.

"Together with Putin, we have instructed our Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and the relevant institution on the Russian side to conduct a joint study … There is no need to wait here," Erdogan told reporters on his way home from Astana.

Erdogan also mentioned that Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller was present during his meeting with Putin.

"Of course, we are taking all kinds of steps in the field of security [of the gas hub project], providing what is required, continuing our work accordingly," Erdogan added.

Earlier this week, Putin said that Russia could move the transit of gas from the Nord Stream network to the Black Sea region and Turkey. Putin and Erdogan have discussed this idea and ordered relevant departments to work out this issue.

Gas deliveries to Europe had to be rerouted following attacks against the Nord Stream pipeline system, which suffered from a series of explosions on September 26. The operator, Nord Stream AG, said the damage was unprecedented, adding it is not clear how long it would take to repair the pipeline.

Gas leak location on Nord Stream 2

© Photo : Swedish Coast Guard

Moscow branded the incident 'international terrorism' and launched a probe into it, with president Putin hinting that the US and Britain are complicit. At the same time, Sweden and Denmark conducted investigations, suggesting it was likely a sabotage, but so far they refused to include Russia in the probe.