Russia-Turkey Gas Pipeline May Be Delayed

Work on the proposed gas pipeline running under the Black Sea from Russia to Turkey will not begin until the two countries sign an agreement on the project, Russia's energy minister said on Wednesday.



"The beginning of the project's construction will be postdated as the date of signing is postdated," Alexander Novak said, according to Interfax news agency.



The project, which will take Russian gas to Europe without crossing Ukraine, was publicly announced during President Vladimir Putin's visit to Turkey in December following the cancellation of the South Stream project to transport gas to Europe via Bulgaria.



The planned line - actually consisting of four pipes - will cross the Black Sea, emerging on Turkey's European Black Sea coast before continuing to Greece and is to carry 63 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year.



Turkey is due to receive 15.75 billion cubic meters yearly from the project. - Ankara