Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev held a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Binali Yildirim today to discuss a number of energy projects, future bilateral contacts and other issues, the Russian government’s press-service said, adding that the conversation had taken place at Turkey’s request.
"Dmitry Medvedev and Binali Yildirim touched upon topical issues of trading and economic interaction, including the implementation of major joint projects in the energy sphere, including the Akkuyu nuclear power plant and the gas pipeline Turkish Stream. Also, they previewed the timetable of forthcoming bilateral contacts," TASS cited the news release as saying.
Yildirim congratulated Medvedev upon successful State Duma elections and the United Russia party’s victory.
"Yildirim underscored his Cabinet’s interest in the steady development of Russian-Turkish relations," the Russian government’s press-office said.
The road map on the Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline project will be agreed after the intergovernmental agreement is ready, Russia’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Tuesday.
"Essentially, the road map on Turkish Stream is part of the intergovernmental agreement, that’s why the document, within which the roadmap will be negotiated, is being prepared now," he said.
According to Novak, "all necessary permits required both eminently for the economic zone and for territorial waters, are expected to be obtained in the nearest future."
Earlier Novak said that the draft intergovernmental agreement was expected to be agreed and signed in October 2016. Also, he said, the construction of the first line of the Turkish Stream would start after obtainment of all required construction and survey permits for Turkish territorial waters. Russia and Turkey also intend to set up a working group for the Turkish Stream, he added.
The Russian leadership unveiled the Turkish Stream project in December 2014 as an alternative to the aborted South Stream. One pipeline of a future gas carrier will be entirely commissioned to meet the growing demand of Turkey’s domestic market.
Another major Russian-Turkish energy project provides for the construction of a four-reactor Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Mersin province. The 4,800-megawatt NPP’s construction costs are estimated at $22 billion. So far Russia has already invested about $3 billion. The first reactor is scheduled to go operational in 2020.
