Construction rates of the TurkStream gas pipeline expected to be kept - Putin

ISTANBUL, November 19. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin expects construction rates of the TurkStream gas pipeline will be maintained and that it will be put into service as scheduled, by 2019 year-end. "Laying of the onshore segment of the TurkStream is up ahead. We expect these activities will be carried out with the same high pace so that to launch the gas pipeline by 2019 year-end, as planned," the head of state said at the ceremony of construction completion for the offshore segment of the gas line. 1,800 km of pipes were laid in total on the Black sea bottom at depth of 2,000 meters and deeper, Putin noted. "The Russian gas will flow to West Turkey over one of two lines of the gas pipeline and it can go to countries of South and Southeastern Europe by transit over the Turkish territory. This definitely makes Turkey a major European hub and there are no doubts that it will influence on the geopolitical position of Turkey," the Russian President said. The most challenging phase of the project has been done along with completion of the offshore segment construction, Putin said. "This is indeed a complex and great job," he said. "I would like to call attention to the fact that gas production and transportation is not a primitive work, as it may seem to someone, this is not merely to drill a hole in earth and pump gas. This is a challenging and high-technology job, linked to application of state-of-the-art technologies. I would like to remind also that gas is the most ecofriendly type of primary energy and currently enjoys the highest demand across the globe," Putin said. Russia and Turkey negotiated implementation of the TurkStream project in Istanbul in October 2016 and President of Turkey gave the name to this project, Putin said. "Now, in just two years from the start of implementation of this large-scale project, its most challenging phase has been completed," he added. Read more