Moscow - Ankara gas pipeline to strengthen Russia in European market

Ankara [Turkey], June 10 (ANI) : The Moscow, Ankara -TurkStream gas pipeline, a 900-kilometre route under the Black Sea that stretches from Russia to Turkey and further extending to Turkey's border with neighbouring countries, will allow Moscow to strengthen its position in the European gas market and reduce dependence on Ukraine, the main route for Russian energy into Europe.

This joint project of Moscow, Ankara -TurkStream, a transit-free export gas pipeline, has received enormous public support that rose to 75 percent in 2017 compared to 56 percent in 2015, benefiting the Turkey.

Turkey occupies a strategic location and acts as a bridge between Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia.

Russian gas giant Gazprom had already started construction of a gas pipeline in May 2017 under the Black Sea to Turkey that also aims to provide gas to the European Union.

One line is expected to supply the Turkish market, while a second line will carry gas to southern and southeastern Europe. Each line will have the throughput capacity of 15.75 billion cubic meters of gas per year.

The pipeline will start from the southern Russian town of Anapa on the Black Sea coast and will be laid on a 900-kilometer route under the Black Sea to reach the Thrace region of Turkey along the Black Sea coast, Anadolu news agency reported.

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, said in a statement.

"Today (in 2017), 85 percent of both general and regional public opinion is positive about such projects," it noted.(ANI)