Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 26

By Rufiz Hafizoglu – Trend:

The more Russia makes up its mind to implement the Turkish Stream gas pipeline construction project, the more this project causes disagreements in Turkey.

Despite the Turkish officials’ statements about Ankara’s special interest in this project, there are many issues that have not been resolved so far. And one of the major onest is that Turkey has not yet determined the route.

In one of his recent statements, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz said that at present, it is too early to talk about the final route of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline.

"The gas pipeline is expected to stretch along the area of Kiyikoy settlement, Tekirdag province, northwest Turkey,” the minister said. “But this is not the final option."

Moreover, he said that there are natural objects and infrastructure on the route of the pipeline that was previously defined by Russia’s Gazprom. The pipeline’s length will be 180 kilometers on Turkey’s territory.

Another controversial issue: who will construct the gas pipeline on Turkey’s territory?

Russia has stated that not Turkish companies, but Russian Gazprom, registered in St. Petersburg, should be engaged in the construction of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline.

However, BOTAS Petroleum Pipeline Corporation of Turkey also intends to take part in the construction of this pipeline, although Russia’s plan isolates it from participation in the project’s implementation.

In this regard, BOTAS said that its isolation from the construction of Turkish Stream is a blow to the interests of both Turkey and the company itself.

In addition, Botas intends to include the Turkish Stream into the gas system of the country in order to supply Russian gas to the Turkish market.

Given this dissension, and the infringement of Ankara’s interests, one can assert that the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP) will remain one of Turkey’s priorities.

That’s especially because its construction, in contrast to the Turkish Stream, will involve such Turkish companies as Mannesmann-Noksel-Erciyas, Umran-Emek, Toscelik Profil ve Sac Endustrisi, as well as the Chinese contractor Baosteel Europe.

Details of the implementation of the Turkish Stream project will be discussed Feb.26 at a meeting of the National Security Council of Turkey headed by the president of the country. The controversial points in its implementation may postpone the construction of the pipeline for an indefinite period.