Russia, Turkey Confirm Interest to Increase Blue Stream Gas Supplies

According to initial calculations given to Turkey by Russia, deliveries of additional volumes of gas could start in the beginning of 2016, Turkish energy minister said. Russia and Turkey have agreed to increase the flow of gas through the Blue Stream pipeline from 16 billion cubic meters to 19 cubic meters annually, according to a Gazprom statement.

Russia and Turkey have confirmed their interests in increasing gas deliveries via the Blue Stream pipeline to three billion cubic meters per year, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Wednesday. “The Turkish side expressed its desire to increase the volume of gas deliveries through Blue Stream to three billion cubic meters a year,” Novak said during a Russian-Turkish inter-government commission meeting.

Gazprom and Botas are working on the technical and economic details of the project, he said, adding “Russia and Turkey as a whole are interested in completing this project.” “According to initial calculations given to us by Gazprom, deliveries of additional volumes of gas could start at the beginning of 2016,” Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz told journalists.

Yildiz said Turkey was ready to receive extra gas in the beginning of 2015, adding that Turkish gas consumption has increased as a whole, especially during the winter. According to the Turkish energy minister, a request was made at the meeting for a price discount on gas supplies to Turkey. “We have sent a request to the Russian side for a discount and it is currently being reviewed,” Yildiz said. In October, Russia and Turkey agreed to increase the flow of gas through the Blue Stream pipeline from 16 billion cubic meters to 19 billion cubic meters annually.