Gazprom Wins Second TurkStream Approval

Gazprom has received Turkish approval to build the second strand of the TurkStream gas pipeline's offshore section under the Black Sea, it said late January 19, describing as "a certainty" that both subsea strands will start operating by end-2019.

The two will each carry 15.75bn m³/yr to northwest Turkey, for a total of 31.5bn m³/yr, with the gas from the second line destined for unspecified markets beyond Turkey.

"The TurkStream project is well underway. In accordance with the plan, it is carried out simultaneously at three sections: onshore in Russia and Turkey and offshore in the Black Sea. Over 760 km of the two strings are already built at the offshore section. Construction of the landfall in Russia is nearly completed. In Turkey, work started at the construction site of the receiving terminal. Today, we received a permit to lay the second string in the exclusive economic zone and territorial waters of Turkey. We now have all of the required permits from the Turkish government to lay the TurkStream gas pipeline in the offshore area. It is therefore a certainty that both strings of the gas pipeline will be put into operation right on time, before the end of 2019," said Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller.

Turkstream pipeline route (Map credit: Gazprom)