Greek, Russian Energy Ministers to Discuss Gas Projects at Moscow Talks

Panos Skourletis is due to meet his Russian counterpart Alexander Novak in Moscow to discuss joint projects.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Greek Energy Minister Panos Skourletis is due to meet his Russian counterpart Alexander Novak in Moscow on Wednesday to discuss joint projects and other opportunities for collaboration.

"Mr. Skourletis will meet with his Russian counterpart Wednesday, December 2, to discuss bilateral energy issues," the Greek Energy and Environment Ministry said in a statement.

It added that the Greek official was scheduled to meet senior executives from Russia's Gazprom energy company and VEB Capital, a subsidiary of VEB Bank which planned to hold a 50 percent stake in the construction company chosen to build the Turkish Stream gas pipeline.

Russian Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said on Tuesday that the Turkish Stream was not among the projects frozen by Moscow after Turkey's downing of a Russian jet over Syria last week.

The Turkish Stream pipeline is expected to run beneath the Black Sea from Russia to Turkey. A gas hub on the Greek-Turkish border will receive an annual 47 billion cubic meters of gas, while the full capacity of the pipeline will total 63 billion cubic meters.

The Greek leg of the project will cost approximately $2.3 billion and construction is expected to commence by late 2016 and completed by late 2019.