Gazprom considers new Black Sea gas pipeline to Turkey
Gazprom, the world’s largest natural-gas exporter, may build a second pipeline under the Black Sea to Turkey,
alongside an existing line with a capacity of 16 bn cm a year.
"In principle, we are considering construction of this pipeline," Gazprom spokesman Igor Volobuyev said. Volobuyev
confirmed remarks made by Gazprom deputy chief executive Alexander Medvedev in Berlin on May 26.
Gazprom, Russia's biggest company, built the 1,200-km Blue Stream pipeline with Italy's ENI and Turkey's state
pipeline monopoly BOTAS.
Turkey wants to become a hub for distributing gas to Europe from the Middle East and the former Soviet Union. It is
also set to become a major hub for oil from ex-Soviet central Asia through a new pipeline built by a BP-led group to
the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan.
Medvedev said in Berlin on May 26 that Gazprom, which supplies a quarter of Europe's gas, may direct future gas
supplies to the US or to Asian countries including China if European leaders turn to competing suppliers.
Mr Medvedev was quoted as saying the company had already carried out a feasibility study on a new Black Sea pipeline
that could have a capacity of 8 or 16 bn cm a year.
