Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced Tuesday that the TurkStream natural gas pipeline project would soon be ratified by Russia, World Bulletin reports.
“We have discussed the TurkStream project. There are positive developments. Both sides have the will to realize this project. […] We [Russia] will soon ratify it,” Medvedev told a news conference with his Turkish counterpart Binali Yildirim in Moscow.
The TurkStream project, announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin during a Dec. 2014 visit to Turkey, will carry gas from Russia under the Black Sea to Turkey’s Thrace region. One line, with 15.75 billion cubic meters of capacity, is expected to supply the Turkish market, while a second line intends to carry gas to Europe.
The agreement on the project entered into force through promulgation in the Turkish Official Gazette on Tuesday.
The General Assembly of the Turkish Parliament ratified the bill for the TurkStream agreement on Dec. 2 and it was consequently approved by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Medvedev said the European part of the project would continue to be discussed.
Turkish premier Yildirim, for his part, said this was an “important” project for energy security.
“We see the TurkStream as a regional project that will contribute to the energy security of Europe, not just Turkey and Russia,” he said, adding the TurkStream would “strengthen” the strategic cooperation between the two countries.
