Posted: 10 May, 2017

The Russian gas giant Gazprom started construction on a new gas pipeline under the Black Sea from southern Russia to northwest Turkey. A series of feeder lines have also been planned to supply the European Union.

"By late 2019, our Turkish and European consumers will have a new, reliable source of Russian gas imports," Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee.

Gazprom’s Swiss partner, Allseas Group, are using their vessel Audacia to start laying the pipeline on the Russia shore of the Black Sea. The TurkStream pipeline will run from southern Russia, near to Anapa, to Samsun and Ankara in northwestern Turkey. A planned feeder line will the supply gas to southern and southeastern Europe. The two pipelines being built will have an annual capacity of 15.75 billion cubic meters, and will help Turkey in its aims to become a regional oil and gas hub for energy from the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Eastern Mediterranean.