Russia's Transneft says Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline project halted
MOSCOW – Nikolai Tokarev, head of Russia's state owned pipeline corporation Transneft, has said the talks with Turkey on building the Samsun-Ceyhan oil link between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean in Turkey have stalled.
Tokarev said in an interview with Reuters that a rival project, the trans-Balkan pipeline now looked more attractive than the Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline.
"Of course, trans-Balkan pipeline is more suitable. We have accomplished many things in this project. We have made a feasibility study and we could have even started its construction this year," Tokarev was quoted as saying.
Tokarev said there were many question marks about the project including the transport costs adding that costs proposed by Turkey were higher than the transport fees for the Turkish straits.
Russian Premier Vladimir Putin, in his response to a question by a Turkish reporter last week, said they made a promise to the Turkish premier and would construct the pipeline together with Turkey.
The Turkish side takes Putin's remarks as reference and Turkish officials say they are not informed about the allegations that talks over Samsun-Ceyhan oil pipeline between Turkey and Russia have stalled.
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