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Gazprom Ceo, Turkish Minister Discuss Gas Transit

Posted on: Sunday, 5 February 2006, 00:00 CST

MOSCOW/ANKARA. Feb 4 (Interfax) - Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Mehmet Hilmi Guler discussed gas transit projects through Turkish territory to third countries.

In particular, Miller and Guler considered gas transit to Greece, southern Italy, Israel, and other Middle East states, Gazprom's press department said in a press release on Saturday.

At a meeting in Ankara on Friday, the two "agreed to study the possible creation of a joint venture for these projects," it said.

"Miller and Guler discussed Gazprom's involvement in gas distribution in Turkey and the development of gas shipment and distribution infrastructure in the country," the press release says.

They also discussed issues concerning the Samsun-Ceyhan oil pipeline.

Miller and Guler agreed to set up a working group to address the above-mentioned issues and hold the next meeting in spring, it said.

The Wall Street Journal said earlier, citing Guler, that Russia and Turkey intended to arrange the supply of Russian gas through Turkey to Israel, Lebanon, Greece, and Italy.

The Turkish state gas company Botas and Gazprom are planning to negotiate the expansion of the Blue Stream pipeline running from Russia to Turkey along the Black Sea floor and its extension from Samsun to Ceyhan and further to Israel and Lebanon.

Negotiations on this project should be completed within the next two months, Guler said.

Gazprom also said in the press release that Turkey "was satisfied to note that, during the recent cold snap in Turkey, Gazprom ensured extra gas supplies to satisfy the higher demand."

Source: Daily News Bulletin; Moscow - English

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