Construction of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline begun on May 7 in the
Black Sea near the Russian coast, Russian gas monopoly Gazprom said.
“Today, we started the practical implementation of the TurkStream gas
pipeline project: pipe-laying within the offshore section. By late
2019, our Turkish and European consumers will have a new, reliable
source of Russian gas imports,” Gazprom CEO
Alexey Miller said.
Pipelaying is carried out by the Audacia vessel owned by Allseas, the
construction contractor for both strings of the gas pipeline’s offshore
section. The vessel will be also used for pipe pulling through
microtunnels.
The Pioneering Spirit pipe-laying vessel will perform construction
works for the Turkish Stream gas pipeline in the deep-water area.
In an effort to bypass transit countries, Gazprom is pushing ahead
with the Turkish Stream pipeline stretching across the Black Sea from
Russia to Turkey and further to Turkey’s border with neighboring
countries.
The first string of the gas pipeline is intended for Turkish
consumers, while the second string will deliver gas to southern and
southeastern Europe, Gazprom said. However, the second stream would have
to abide by European Union law, the European Commission has said since
it will cross EU territory.
Brussels is lukewarm about the project since it is not providing a new supply source and does not reduce reliance on Russia.
Each string will have the throughput capacity of 15.75 billion cubic metres of gas per year, according to Gazprom.
On October 10, 2016, Russia and Turkey signed the Intergovernmental
Agreement on Turkish Stream. South Stream Transport B.V., a wholly owned
subsidiary of Gazprom, is responsible for the construction of the gas
pipeline’s offshore section.
Allseas Group is the world’s leading company in offshore pipe-laying
and subsea construction while Audacia is a multi-purpose pipe-laying
vessel used for laying small- and medium-diameter pipelines of any
length and at any depth.
https://www.neweurope.eu/article/gazprom-starts-construction-turkish-stream-offshore-pipe/