Gazprom to consider participating in Greek section of Turkish Stream
MOSCOW. June 1 (Interfax) - Gazprom has expressed a willingness to consider options for participating in the construction of infrastructure in Greece for transportation of Russian gas, the Russian gas giant said following a meeting between company CEO Alexei Miller and Greek Productive Reconstruction, Environment and Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis.
"The parties discussed the issue of the construction of capacity for transportation of Russian gas on the territory of Greece. It was noted that Gazprom is prepared to consider options for participation in the creation of this infrastructure on mutually beneficial terms," the company said in a statement.
Lafazanis met with Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak in Moscow on Friday. The meeting with Miller was held in St. Petersburg.
Gazprom plans to build the Turkish Stream gas pipeline across the Black Sea to the border between Turkey and Greece. Russia is holding negotiations with Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary on their possible participation in extending the pipeline to a gas hub in Austria.
Lafazanis said in an interview with Sputnik that the United States' position on the extension of Turkish Stream through Greece would not influence his country's position. Greece supports the project and wants the pipeline to be extended through its territory, and it believes the pipeline will be needed by all European countries and is very disappointed by the U.S. position, the minister said.
Unfortunately, the U.S. has a negative position in regard to a gas pipeline with Russian gas, Lafazanis said, adding that the U.S. took this position officially at his last meeting with representatives of the U.S. authorities on energy issues.
A gas pipeline that would replace transit of Russian gas through Ukraine is absolutely necessary for Europe's energy security, which means it should be supported by all members of the European Union and Europeans who understand the necessity of continuous supplies of cheap gas, the minister said.
He said that Turkish Stream and the TAP gas pipeline from Azerbaijan to Europe being lobbied by the U.S. and EU are not competing projects, since they each have their own role. TAP is a gas pipeline that would, of course, run through Greece, but it does not guarantee Europe's huge demand for gas, Lafazanis said, adding that the project is not an alternative to Turkish Stream.
He estimated that the Greek section of Turkish Stream could cost about 2 billion euros. Financing for the project has not been discussed yet, but it is already known that the approximate cost of the pipeline will be about 2 billion euros and its construction will create about 20,000 jobs, the minister said.
He also said that an agreement on the construction of the extension of Turkish Stream in Greece to supply gas to consumers in southern Europe might be signed at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June.
He said the matter is now at the analysis and planning stage. The transnational agreement on the gas pipeline is in the final stage and hopefully it will be signed soon, Lafazanis said, adding that Greek Prime Minister Alexios Tsipras plans to attend the St. Petersburg forum.
