Turkey's Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said Tuesday thatthe delay in theTurkish Stream project is due to factors from Russia.
The
pipeline project tocarry Russian gas to Europe, with Turkey as a
transportation hub, was caused because the Russian side was late in
deliveringthe coordinates for the construction route, Yildiz said.
"The
delivery datefor the route coordinates has been extended until June
10,or to a later date. Turkey could not beginany construction without
thesecoordinates," said Yildiz, speaking to Anadolu Agency in an
exclusive interview.
Russian President Vladimir Putin scrapped the
South Stream project last December and announced Turkish Stream,
planned to deliver Russian natural gas to Europe through the Black
Seaand Turkey byfour pipelines with a capacity of 63 billion cubic
meters.
Turkey has also agreed toa 10.25 percent discount
onRussian gas purchases,anda $1 billion retroactive payment is due on
this agreement which was dated Jan.1. Yildiz said.Turkey is the
second-largest consumer of Russian gas, Yildiz pointed out.Yildiz
added that Turkey demands that Russian gas prices shouldnot be higher
than what EU countries pay, and the price difference is closing up.
The
minister explained thatthe discount and the construction of the
pipeline are separate issues, but being handled simultaneously
atRussia's demand.Both agreements are yet to be signed.
Turkey
will build the 265-km part of the pipeline going through in its borders,
while the partbeneath the Black Sea will be constructed byRussia,
Yildiz said.
"Theinter-governmental agreement for the project
should be ratified in parliament, andTurkey must firstform a
newgovernment witheither a coalition or a snap election,"Yildiz
added, since talks for a coalition government are ongoing among Turkish
politicalparties.
Russia and Turkey have been engaged in
disputeson several political issues, including the "1915events"
regardingArmenian citizens in the Ottoman empire,and the crisisin
Syria, but Yildiz says "joint projects are isolated from politics"
between the two countries.
Mentioning his talk with Maros
Sefkovic, Vice President of the European Commission, in charge of Energy
Union, Yildiz said:"As an EU member, if you demand natural gas on the
one hand and refuse the project on the other, it would create a
contradiction, which Europe needs to overcome," Yildiz said. Yildiz
pointed out that demand for natural gas continues to grow in Europe.
- Turkey hopeful to win Iran arbitration case
Yildiz
said Turkey was hopeful ofwinning the disputeongas prices withIran
atthe International Court of Arbitration (ICA), as litigation has
ended,and a decision is expected to come out soon.
Turkey has
repeatedly objected to the highcost of Iraniangas and has demanded a
discount by taking the case to the ICA, as the country purchases 10
billion cubic meters, andpays$487 per 1,000 cubic meters.
"I
think the court has made its decision. We opened the case expectingto
win it and we keep to the same belief now," Yildiz said.
Asked
aboutrelations with Iranafterthe agreement on nuclear energybetween
Iran and world powers, Yildiz saidTurkey has always maintainedgood
relations with Iran and will continue to do so.
On a pipeline
between Europe and Iran that is planned to carry 35 billion cubic meters
of Iranian gas, Yildiz said Turkey wouldhelp for the construction
process through Turkey.
Yildiz said he recommends that Turkish
investors place fundsin Iran's economy, while warning thatIran's
constitution should bechanged to create aneasier business environment
after sanctions are removed.
- Advanced technology to protect pipelines
Pipelines
inIraq and Irancame under attack by the PKK, which has beendeclared a
terrorist organisation by U.S., EU and Turkey,in the southeastern
region of the country.Yildiz said extra measures would be taken for
better protection as the areais protected byTurkish military forces.
"We
are working on the protection of pipelines by using advanced
technology. There is a road map as we areworking on jointly with the
general staff. The pipelines will be safer," Yildiz said.
The
attack on pipelines also cuts oil revenues for the Kurdish regional
governmentand the Iraqi government, Yildiz noted. Hesaid that oil
deliveries through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline haveyet to be launched.
(Anadolu Agency)