Botas sees Blue Stream pipeline operating in April of 2001
Arslan Kaya, a representative of the Turkish pipeline concern Botas, announced the Turkish part of the Goluboi Potok
(Blue Stream) gas line be commissioned in the second quarter of 2001. Kaya, who is acting as co-ordinator of
construction works on the Turkish section of the pipeline, said that the gas would begin flowing in April of next
year. He also said that $ 339 mm would be required to complete the project.
Botas and its partners began work on the second overland section of the pipeline on February 10 in Haymana, about 60
km south of Istanbul. The 501 km pipeline from Samsun to Haymana is expected to be commissioned in the second quarter
of 2001.
Botas launched construction after Russia's Gazprom began laying the first onshore section of the pipeline from
Izobilnoye to Dzhugba, on the Black Sea coast. The middle section of the pipeline will run beneath the bed of the
Black Sea between Dzhugba and Samsun. Gazprom and ENI of Italy are to build this underwater link, with help from
Bouyguesof France.
The Russian gas monopoly hopes that the Blue Stream pipeline, which will eventually run 1,200 km from Izobilnoye to
Haymana, will carry up to 16 bn cmpy of gas to Turkey.
