Cavushoglu, Poroshenko mull TANAP project
By Nigar Abbasova
Turkey and Ukraine have considered participation of the latter in the implementation of the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Project, a core pipe forming the Southern Gas Corridor.
The sides mulled the project as Turkey’s Foreign Minister Movlut Cavushoglu met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Kiev, February 10, Ria Novosti reported.
For now, work on TANAP project, which within the SGC will serve as a new alternative for energy supplies to Europe is completed by almost 65 percent. Next year, Turkey is expected to receive gas passing through the pipeline.
Cavushoglu, speaking at a press conference following his meeting with the Ukrainian leader, also touched upon the Turkish Stream project, envisaging supplies of the Russian gas under the Black Sea (bypassing Ukraine) to Turkey and further to Europe.
Ukraine, which used to meet its gas demand through imports of Russian gas, has not bought ‘blue fuel’ directly from Russia since November 2015, importing instead from Europe.
Ukrainian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Alexander Mishenko, earlier said that Azerbaijan has a strategic importance for Ukraine within its plans to find an alternative to Russian gas supplies, as diversification of energy resources is an issue of national security for Ukraine.
Answering the question whether the Turkish Stream can be assessed as a project directed against interest of Ukraine, the minister said that Turkey assesses all energy projects in terms of its energy security and national interest and none of the projects is directed against any country.
“Turkey inks energy agreements with a number of countries to diversify supply routes and ensure its energy security,” he said.
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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova
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