17 Jan 2018 17:24

Gazprom begins construction of TurkStream receiving terminal

MOSCOW. Jan 17 (Interfax) - South Stream Transport BV (SST), the project company for the TurkStream offshore gas pipeline, officially announced the start to construction of the receiving terminal in Turkey, SST said in a statement.

"With the start of the onshore construction in Turkey, the project is now being implemented in three construction areas: onshore Russia, onshore Turkey and offshore in the Black Sea," it said.

The contract for construction of the receiving terminal was awarded to Petrofac in September 2017. Petrofac is currently mobilizing and has contracted Tekfen, one of Turkish leading construction companies, as its main subcontractor.

The work involves the preparation of the area where the receiving terminal will be located in the Turkish Thrace region, near the town of Kiyikoy. In line with the requirements of the Turkish legislation, SST has obtained the required permits and paid the necessary fees.

The construction of the landfall facilities on the Russian side of the Black Sea, near the city of Anapa, is reaching the final stages of construction. Construction of this facility is expected to be completed in 2018. The Allseas vessel Pioneering Spirit is working on the two offshore pipelines. The first line is currently being laid all the way up to the Turkish shore.

The 930-kilometer TurkStream pipeline will consist of two lines, each with capacity to ship 15.75 billion cubic meters of gas per year. It will be the first undersea pipeline in the world made of 81-cm pipe and will be laid in waters up to 2,200 meters deep. Gas supplied on the first line is intended for the Turkish market. Gas from the second line will continue on to Turkey's border with the EU, for consumption in Southern and Southeastern Europe. First supplies of gas on the line are scheduled for the end of 2019.