Russia wants to see Turkey as a natural gas transit hub, and to this end it supports the TurkStream natural gas project, Russian Ambassador to Ankara, Andrey Karlov told Anadolu Agency on Wednesday.
The signing of the intergovernmental agreement for the TurkStream Natural Gas Pipeline Project in Istanbul, between Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Oct. 10, has ensured that construction works can start for the project, Karlov explained.
The TurkStream project, announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin during a December 2014 visit to Turkey, will carry gas from Russia under the Black Sea to Turkish Thrace. One line, with 15.75 billion cubic meters of capacity, is expected to supply the Turkish market while a second line intends carrying gas to Europe.
'We expect the construction of the pipeline to start next year and the first gas to arrive in 2019. In the first stage, two lines will be constructed. The first line will have a capacity to meet Turkey's natural gas needs and the other line can transfer gas to third countries in southern Europe in accordance with the agreement, or it can be used to meet Turkey's growing domestic demand,' Karlov said.
He also underlined that Russia has never relented from its cooperation with Turkey on the construction of Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant.
Relations between Russia and Turkey soured last November after the downing of Russian jet, which had violated Turkish airspace along the Syrian border. Relations began to thaw on June 29 following a letter and subsequent telephone calls between the countries’ leaders.
Noting that the necessary legislation to speed up the construction of the plant has been passed by the Turkish Parliament, Karlov also said that the education of 250 Turkish students in Russia in preparation for employment at the new plant is ongoing.
'The issue of workers who will be employed in the plant is also very important. Nearly 250 Turkish students are being educated in different Russian universities in the field of nuclear energy engineering,' he shared.
The agreement for the Akkuyu nuclear plant was signed in 2010. The plant plans to have 4,800 megawatts of capacity in four units and is anticipated to be operational by 2023.
Reporting by Nazli Yuzbasioglu
Writing by Ebru Sengul
Anadolu Agency
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