It is a „historical project“ that shows the intensity of the economic relations of their countries. „God willing, this project will be ready after the 2019 tests.“
Putin called the pipeline an „important factor in European energy security“. Turkey is developing into a „major European hub“ in the gas business by branching from Turkish Stream to southwest Europe. The project was „not directed against another country,“ the president assured. He praised Erdogan’s „political will and courage“ and emphasized that he was sure that the pipeline and the Russian-built Akkuyu nuclear power plant „would become a clear symbol of Russia’s and Russia’s growing and diverse partnership“.
The two politicians praised the completion of the two tubes under the Black Sea, but the land part in Turkey still needs to be built. The pipeline runs for 930 kilometers at a depth of about 2000 meters between the Russian Anapa and the Turkish coastal town of Kiyikoy. Construction began in May 2017. The pipeline is expected to deliver 31.1 billion cubic meters of gas per year from Russia to Turkey.
Commissioning probably at the end of 2019
The pipeline was laid by the huge special ship „Pioneering Spirit“. By the end of 2019, the part on the mainland should be completed, so that the gas supplies can begin. Half of the gas will go to Turkish cities such as Istanbul, Bursa and Izmir, while the other half will continue to Europe. The pipeline bypasses Ukraine, with which Moscow has been in conflict for years. Russia has been supplying gas through the Blue Stream gas pipeline to Turkey since 2003. This connection also leads through the Black Sea and reaches the Turkish coast at the Black Sea town of Samsun.
Turkey and Russia had come to an end at the end of 2015 because of the conflict in Syria, where they stand on different sides. Since reconciliation in 2016, however, they have significantly increased their political and economic cooperation. Not only are Putin and Erdogan working closely together in the Syrian conflict, but Turkey is also increasingly buying Russian arms and commissioning Russia to build the first Turkish nuclear power plant.
