TurkStream

{{Infobox pipeline

| name = TurkStream

| type = natural gas

| photo =

| caption =TurkStream Pipeline

| map = {{maplink|type=line|id=Q18810087|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=200|stroke-width=3}}

| country = Russia
Turkey

| state =

| province =

| coordinates =

| direction =

| start = Russkaya compressor station near Anapa, Krasnodar Krai, Russia

| through = Black Sea

| finish = Kıyıköy, Turkey

| owner =

| partners =

| operator = Gazprom (Russian onshore section, offshore section)
BOTAŞ (Turkish onshore section)

| technical_service_provider =

| pipe_manufacturer =

| pipe_installer = Allseas

| pipe_layer = Audacia
Pioneering Spirit

| contractors =

| construction = May 2017

| est = 8 January 2020

| decom =

| length = 930

| discharge = {{convert|31.5|e9m3/a|abbr=on}}

| diameter_mm =

| diameter_in =

| compressor_stations_no =

| compressor_stations =

}}

TurkStream ({{langx|tr|TürkAkım}} or Türk Akımı, {{langx|ru|Турецкий поток}}; former name: Turkish Stream) is a natural gas pipeline running from Russia to Turkey. It starts from Russkaya compressor station near Anapa in Russia's Krasnodar Region, crossing the Black Sea to the receiving terminal at Kıyıköy. Most gas flows onwards to the European Union via the Malkoçlar pipeline to Bulgaria.

History

File:Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Vladimir Putin at the opening ceremony of TurkStream Pipeline.jpg and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the opening ceremony of TurkStream pipeline in Istanbul on 19 November 2018]]

The first direct gas pipeline between Russia and Turkey under the Black Sea was Blue Stream, which was commissioned in 2005. In 2009, Russia′s prime minister Vladimir Putin proposed the Blue Stream II line parallel to the original pipeline.

{{cite news

| publisher = The Jamestown Foundation

| work = Eurasia Daily Monitor

| url = https://jamestown.org/program/gazprom-turkey-revive-and-reconfigure-blue-stream-two/

| title= Gazprom, Turkey Revive and Reconfigure Blue Stream Two

| first = Vladimir | last = Socor

| author-link1 = Vladimir Socor

| date=2009-08-11

| access-date=2009-08-30}}

The Blue Stream II project never took off and the South Stream project took the lead, until it was abandoned in 2014.

{{cite news |date=2014-12-01 |title=Russia drops South Stream gas pipeline plan |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30283571 |access-date=2014-12-01}}

The TurkStream (then named Turkish Stream) project was announced by Russia′s president Vladimir Putin on 1 December 2014 during his state visit to Turkey, when a memorandum of understanding was signed between Gazprom and BOTAŞ.

{{cite web

| url = https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/projects/turkstream-pipeline/

| title = TurkStream Pipeline

| access-date=2019-12-12

| work = NS Energy}}

A permit to conduct engineering surveys for the Turkish offshore section was granted in July 2015. Also in July 2015, a memorandum of understanding between Greece and Russia was signed for the construction and operation of the TurkStream section in the Greek territory.

In November 2015, after the shooting down of a Russian Sukhoi Su-24, the project was unilaterally suspended by Russia.

{{cite news

| work = EURACTIV

| url = http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/erdogan-fumes-at-russia-s-restrictive-measures-after-jet-downing/

| title = Erdogan fumes at Russia's 'restrictive measures' after jet downing

| first = Georgi | last = Gotev

| date = 2015-11-27

| access-date = 2017-05-20}}

In late July 2016, following a reconciliation meeting in Moscow, both sides brought the project back to the table.

{{cite news

| title = Russian, Turkish officials discuss restoring economic, trade ties

| newspaper = Hürriyet Daily News

| url = http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/russian-turkish-officials-discuss-restoring-economic-trade-ties-102119

| date= 26 July 2016

| access-date = 2 August 2016}}

{{cite news

| first = Kostis | last = Geropoulos

| title = Moving closer together, Putin, Erdogan push Turkish Stream

| work = New Europe

| url=https://www.neweurope.eu/article/moving-closer-together-putin-erdogan-push-turkish-stream/

| date=29 July 2016

| access-date=2 August 2016}}

On 10 October 2016, Russia and Turkey officially signed the intergovernmental agreement in Istanbul to execute the project.

{{cite news

| title=Turkey, Russia Sign Gas Pipeline Deal as Ties Improve

| url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/putin-erdogan-meet-energy-summit-istanbul-42695884

| access-date=10 October 2016

| agency = ABC News

| date=10 October 2016}}

A contract with an offshore contractor Allseas for laying the first line was signed on 8 December 2016 and the contract for the second line was signed on 20 February 2017. Laying of the first line in the Russian offshore section started on 7 May 2017.

{{cite news

| url = http://chelorg.com/2017/05/07/gazprom-has-started-construction-of-the-offshore-section-of-turkish-stream/

| title = Gazprom has started construction of the offshore section of Turkish stream

| date = 2017-05-07

| agency = RIA Novosti

| work = Russia News Today

| access-date = 2017-05-20}}

The ceremony of completing construction of the offshore section was held in Istanbul on 19 November 2018.

{{cite news

| work = Reuters

| first1 = Olesya | last1 = Astakhova

| first2 = Ali | last2 = Kucukgocmen

| first3 = Tom | last3 = Balmforth

| first4 = Polina | last4 = Devitt

| url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-russia-gas-pipeline/russias-gazprom-says-offshore-part-of-turkstream-is-complete-idUSKCN1NO1KS

| title = Russia's Gazprom says offshore part of TurkStream is complete

| date = 2018-11-19

| access-date = 2019-12-13}}

The offshore section of the pipeline was filled with gas in November 2019.

{{cite news

| newspaper = Budapest Business Journal

| url = https://bbj.hu/region/turkstream-project-enters-final-stage_174531

| title = TurkStream project enters final stage

| date = 2019-11-22

| access-date = 2019-12-13}}

Gazprom began shipping gas via TurkStream, including to Bulgaria and North Macedonia, on 1 January 2020, replacing supplies via the Trans-Balkan pipeline through Ukraine and Romania.

{{cite news|url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-bulgaria-gas/russian-begins-turkstream-gas-flows-to-greece-north-macedonia-idUSKBN1Z40D0 |title= Russian begins TurkStream gas flows to Greece, North Macedonia | date = 2020-01-05 |work = Reuters | access-date = 2020-01-05}} The pipeline was inaugurated on 8 January 2020 by presidents Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

{{cite news

| url = https://tass.com/economy/1094419

| title = Turk Stream launch scheduled for January 8 in Istanbul – Erdogan

| date = 2019-11-30

| agency = TASS

| access-date = 2019-12-13}}

{{cite news

| title = TurkStream pipeline project to be officially launched Wednesday

| newspaper = Daily Sabah

| url = https://www.dailysabah.com/energy/2020/01/06/turkstream-pipeline-project-to-be-officially-launched-wednesday

| date = 6 January 2020

| access-date = 6 January 2020}}

The TurkStream project replaced the South Stream project that was cancelled in 2014. Following the shooting down of a Russian fighter jet by Turkey in November 2015, the project was temporarily halted. Russia–Turkey relations were restored in summer 2016 and the intergovernmental agreement for TurkStream was signed in October 2016. Construction started in May 2017 and gas deliveries to Bulgaria via the pipeline began on 1 January 2020.

On 13 January 2025, the Russian defence ministry reported a failed Ukrainian drone attack on a TurkStream compressor station in the Krasnodar region, which Russia called an "act of energy terrorism". The attack happened after Ukraine refused to renew a five-year transit contract for Russian gas through Ukraine.{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-tried-attack-turkstream-pipeline-infrastructure-southern-russia-moscow-2025-01-13/ |title=Moscow says Ukraine tried to attack TurkStream pipeline infrastructure in Russia |author1=Vladimir Soldatkin |last2=Papachristou |first2=Lucy |last3=Rodionov |first3=Maxim |publisher=Reuters |url-access=limited |date=13 January 2025 |access-date=16 January 2025}}

Technical features

The pipeline is estimated to cost €11.4 billion. The pipeline has two lines with a total capacity of {{convert|31.5|e9m3/a|abbr=unit}} of natural gas.

{{cite news

| url = http://tass.com/economy/771456

| title = Launch date of Turkish Stream not to differ much from South Stream schedule – Gazprom

| date = 2015-01-16

| agency = TASS

| access-date = 2015-01-25}}

The first line supplies Turkey and the second line allows the transport of natural gas further, to South East and Central Europe.

{{cite news

|newspaper = Today's Zaman

|first = Amanda

|last = Paul

|url = http://www.todayszaman.com/columnist/amanda-paul/game-on-for-turkish-stream_370649.html

|title = Game on for 'Turkish Stream'

|date = 2015-01-24

|access-date = 2015-01-25

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150125064258/http://www.todayszaman.com/columnist/amanda-paul/game-on-for-turkish-stream_370649.html

|archive-date = 2015-01-25}}

Both lines are using pipes with an outer diameter of {{convert|810|mm|in|abbr=on}}, manufactured by Europipe GmbH of Germany, Vyksa Steel Works of OMK and Izhora Pipe Mill of Severstal of Russia, and a consortium of Marubeni, Itochu and Sumitomo of Japan.

{{cite news

| url = https://www.offshore-mag.com/pipelines/article/16755988/turkstream-project-awaits-construction-start

| title = TurkStream project awaits construction start

| date = 2017-04-12

| work = Offshore

| access-date = 2019-12-13}}

Pipes have a wall thickness of {{convert|39|mm|in|abbr=on}} and a concrete coating of {{convert|80|mm|in|abbr=on}}. The internal pressure of the pipeline is {{convert|300|bar|psi|lk=on}}. The pipeline is installed in water depths up to {{convert|2200|m|ft|abbr=on}}.

Route

File:Major russian gas pipelines to europe.png pipelines connect Russia and Turkey under the Black Sea]]

TurkStream begins at the Russkaya compressor station near Anapa. It runs approximately {{convert|930|km|mi|abbr=on|0}} offshore, of which approximately {{convert|230|km|mi|abbr=on}} is located in the Russian maritime zones and approximately {{convert|700|km|mi|abbr=on|0}} is located in the Turkish waters. The landing point in Turkey is Kıyıköy, a village in the district of Vize in Kırklareli Province at northwestern Turkey. From there, it continues from Kıyıköy to Malkoçlar into Bulgaria at the Turkey–Bulgaria border.

{{cite news

| title = Ankara to complete TurkStream by end of 2019

| newspaper = Hürriyet Daily News

| url = http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ankara-to-complete-turkstream-by-end-of-2019-148818

| date= 18 November 2019

| access-date = 13 December 2019}}

The further extension of the pipeline in South-East and Central European countries are responsibilities of involved countries. For the gas transport both existing infrastructure and construction of new pipelines will be used. For Gazprom the preferable option is to export gas from the second line to Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria.

{{cite news

| url = https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3806415

| script-title=ru: «Газпром» сделал трубный выбор

|trans-title = Gazprom made a pipe choice

| first = Yuri | last = Barsukov

| date = 2018-11-22

| access-date = 2019-12-13

| newspaper = Kommersant

| language = ru}}

The route in Bulgaria starts on the Bulgaria–Turkey borders and runs by a reverse mode to the compressor station in Provadia, north-east of Bulgaria. From there, a new {{convert|474|km|mi|adj=mid|abbr=on}} pipeline will run to the Bulgaria–Serbia border. New compressor stations will be built in Provadia and Rasovo. The Serbian part of the gas transport route begins near Zaječar on the Bulgaria–Serbia border and cross the Serbia–Hungary border near Horgoš.

{{cite news

| url = https://tass.com/economy/1083038

| title = Serbian part of TurkStream to be complete by end of 2019

| date = 2019-10-14

| agency = TASS

| access-date = 2019-12-13}}

A connecting branch from Belgrade to Bosnia and Herzegovina is planned.

{{cite news

| title = TurkStream branch to Serbia to start in 2020

| agency = Anadolu Agency

| newspaper = Hürriyet Daily News

| url = http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkstream-branch-to-serbia-to-start-in-2020-147295

| date= 9 October 2019

| access-date = 13 December 2019}}

The Hungarian section will be only {{convert|15|km|mi|abbr=on}} long.

{{cite news

| title = Turkstream natural gas in Hungary's interest: Putin

| newspaper = Hürriyet Daily News

| url = http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkstream-natural-gas-in-hungarys-interest-putin-148121

| date= 31 October 2019

| access-date = 13 December 2019}}

The other planned follow-on projects included also the Tesla pipeline, to run from Greece to North Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary, ending at the Baumgarten gas hub in Austria.{{cite news |url=https://www.neweurope.eu/article/russia-pushes-tesla-pipeline-through-balkans/ |title=Russia Pushes Tesla Pipeline Through Balkans |work=New Europe |first=Kostis |last=Geropoulos |date=20 August 2015}}

Contractors

The project was implemented by South Stream Transport B.V., a subsidiary of Gazprom, which was originally established for the South Stream project.

{{cite news

| url = http://tass.com/economy/943604

| title = Gazprom plans to begin laying Turkish Stream in summer

| date = 2017-04-27

| agency = TASS

| access-date = 2017-05-20}}

In the near-shore areas the offshore pipeline was laid by the pipe-laying vessel Audacia. For the deep part of the Black Sea, the pipe-laying vessel Pioneering Spirit was used.

{{cite news

| url = http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/half-of-turkstream-offshore-section-installed-company-128328

| title = Half of TurkStream offshore section installed: Company

| date = 2018-03-06

| newspaper = Hürriyet Daily News

| access-date = 2018-03-31}}

The contractor for the Turkish section was Petrofac and the subcontractor for the construction of the receiving terminal in Turkey was Tekfen. Contractor for the onshore section to the Turkey–Bulgaria border was TurkAkim Gaz Tasima A. S. will carry out construction of the land section, a joint venture of Gazprom and BOTAŞ.

Impact

TurksStream changes the regional gas flows in South-East Europe by diverting the transit through Ukraine and the Trans Balkan Pipeline system.

{{cite news

| title = TurkStream natural gas pipeline to impact region's gas flow

| newspaper = Daily Sabah

| url = https://www.dailysabah.com/energy/2019/10/22/turkstream-natural-gas-pipeline-to-impact-regions-gas-flow

| date= 23 October 2019

| access-date = 13 December 2019}}

In 2022, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin planned for Turkey to become an energy hub for all of Europe.{{cite news |title=Erdogan Agrees to Putin's Plan for Turkey to Be Russian Gas Hub |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/erdogan-agrees-to-putin-s-plan-for-turkey-to-be-russian-gas-hub/6798604.html |work=VOA News |date=20 October 2022}} According to Aura Săbăduș, a senior energy journalist focusing on the Black Sea region, "Turkey would accumulate gas from various producers — Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan, [liquefied natural gas] and its own Black Sea gas — and then whitewash it and relabel it as Turkish. European buyers wouldn’t know the origin of the gas."{{cite news |title=Erdoğan plays energy card in Turkish election — with Putin's help |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/turkey-election-energy-recep-tayyip-erdogan-nuclear-gas-russia/ |work=Politico |date=4 May 2023}}

After the cessation of gas transit through Ukraine to Europe at the beginning of 2025, TurkStream will be the only gas pipeline through which Russia can directly supply gas to Europe. By 2023, Russia's gas deliveries via TurkStream have already increased by 23% to 16.7 billion cubic meters. According to Gokhan Yardim, former manager of the state-owned energy company GOTA, this will open up the possibility of a further 15 billion cubic meters of gas transit. On January 11, 2025, Ukraine attacked a TurkStream gas compressor station in Russia with drones. However, the gas transport was not interrupted.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-15 |title=Turkish energy minister confirms TurkStream attack, gas flow unaffected - Türkiye Today |url=https://www.turkiyetoday.com/business/turkish-energy-minister-confirms-turkstream-attack-gas-flow-unaffected-105910/ |access-date=2025-01-17 |language=en-US}}

In 2024, Slovakia entered into a pilot contract to buy natural gas from Azerbaijan to reduce the impact of the Ukrainian closure of the pipeline for Russian supplies in 2025. Transfer may be via Russia and TurkStream.{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/slovakias-spp-signs-pilot-deal-azerbaijani-gas-2024-11-13/ |title=Slovakia's SPP signs pilot deal for Azerbaijani gas |last1=Hovet |first1=Jason |last2=Astakhova |first2=Olesya |publisher=Reuters |url-access=limited |date=13 November 2024 |access-date=14 January 2025}}