"The document is nearly ready, some details remain. We hope that it will be signed within the framework of the World Energy Congress," Novak told reporters.
According to Novak, the Turkish Stream pipeline intergovernmental agreement provides for the construction of the two branches, though the sides are mainly discussing "the first branch, which is supposed to deliver gas for Turkish customers."
The Turkish Stream project was announced in the end of 2014 by Russian President Vladimir Putin on his state visit to Turkey. The pipeline is expected to run below the Black Sea from Russia to Turkey and continue to a hub on the Turkish-Greek border, from where the gas could be transferred to Southern Europe.
In November 2015, the Turkish Stream project was suspended after a Russian Su-24 aircraft was downed by a Turkish F-16 fighter in Syria. In June, following Turkey's apology to Russia for the November incident, the sides began a reconciliation process.
In late September, Russia's Gazprom energy company said it had received a majority of permits from Ankara on the construction of the pipeline.
