Turkey Approves EIA Report for South Stream’s Offshore Section

Turkey gave the green light to South Stream’s offshore section in its waters, approving the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report presented by Gazprom. 

‘The document concludes that the project will have no considerable effect on the Black Sea environment or the regional fishing industry. In addition, the Report proposes a number of measures aimed at eliminating or mitigating any environmental impacts of the project. For example, the gas pipeline bypasses certain locations of shipwrecks. Such measures are already incorporated in the design documents for the gas pipeline construction,’ read a note released on Thursday.  

Gazprom confirmed that first gas via South Stream will be supplied to European consumers in late 2015, also restating that the gas pipeline will reach its full capacity in 2018. 

Turkey is a key player in the Ukrainian crisis. It is still playing under the radar, but the control of the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles give Ankara a strong power.  

Recently, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said that the country does not plan to increase its stake in Azeri-Turkish Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP).