Ankara Expects Turkish Stream Pipeline Construction to Begin in 2017

Ankara does not see any obstacles for the implementation of the Turkish Stream project, the country's energy minister said.

ANKARA (Sputnik) — Ankara expects the construction of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline to begin in 2017, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Berat Albayrak said Wednesday.

“Turkish Stream is an important project for our energy policy. In 2019, the contract between Russian and Ukraine [on gas transit] expires, and Russia has launched a new project. From the gas diversification view, the project will positively impact our energy policy. We expect the construction to begin in the beginning of 2017. We cannot see any obstacles for it to be implemented by 2019, just as planned, Albayrak said in an interview with Anadolu news agency.

Turkey did not withdraw its appeal against Russian energy giant Gazprom from the international arbitrage, in which it calls for a discount on gas prices, the Turkish minister said.

“We continue talks on gas price discount with Gazprom. We have not made a step back in protecting our rights and interested in the arbitrage. Soon, when everything will be clear, we will give an official information,” Albayrak said in an interview with Anadolu agency.