Russia threatens to cancel Turkey projects
ADV
ADV
Russia threatens to cancel Turkey projects

Russia threatens to cancel Turkey projects

di lettura
(AGI) Istanbul, Nov 25 - Following the shooting down of aRussian warplane by Turkish F16 fighters on Tuesday, RussianPrime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has announced that Moscow isseriously considering cancelling a number of potentialpartnerships with Turkey. He referred to Turkish companiesactive on the Russian market and the construction of the Sinopnuclear power plant in Turkey, a 20-billion dollar projectassigned to Russia's Rosatom. There is also the Turkish Streamproject for an alternative pipeline to the Russia South Stream,which was "aborted" following EU objections. The greatestconcern, however, relates to gas supplies between the twocountries, and Turkey is weighing up its own alternatives.Figures from the Turkish Energy Ministry and state energycompany BOTAS showed that, of the 49.2 million cubic metres ofthe gas Turkey had to import last year, 26.9 million m3 - or 54percent - came from Russia. Supplies are streamed through twodifferent pipelines, the West Line and the Blue Stream. Russiaand Turkey have been discussing a project for a third pipeline,the Turkish Stream, which would carry gas to Europe withouttransiting through Ukraine. Head of Gazprom Alexei Miller,had said after the jet incursions last month that politicalaffairs would not affect deals already made in relation to thenew pipeline, but the situation has become much more tense. TheBOTAS figures also showed that Turkey also imports 8.9 millionm3 of gas from Iran, and 6 million from Azerbaijan, as well as7.2 million m3 of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Algeria andNigeria. Turkey needs to import more than half the gas requiredto satisfy internal demand, which is why BOTAS is working on analternative plan to increase imports of LNG should relationswith Russia deteriorate further. This would, however, bringhuge costs. The Trans Anatolian Natural Gas PipelineProject (TANAP), due for completion in 2018, would enableannual imports of natural gas from nearby Azerbaijan to Turkeyto rise by 6 million m3. By doubling its supply of gas fromIran, Turkey could then import 20 million m3 a year. Talks onincreasing gas supplies from Iraq to Turkey as of 2017 areongoing, but much will depend on political developments in thearea. A number of pre-agreements and memoranda have been signedwith Turkmenistan, but gas cannot currently be exported toTurkey because of the lack of an adequate infrastructuralnetwork. (AGI). .
ADV