Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday marked the completion of the offshore phase of a gas pipeline underneath the Black Sea, the latest sign of burgeoning cooperation between Ankara and Moscow.
Erdoğan hailed the TurkStream pipeline, which aims to pump some 31.1 billion cubic metres of gas from Russia to Turkey annually, as a "new step" in Turkish-Russian energy cooperation, which he said showed the "high level" of relations between the two countries.
Monday's ceremony marked the completion of the building of two undersea lines stretching 930 kilometres (578 miles) across the Black Sea from Anapa in Russia to Kiyikoy in Turkey at a depth of some 2 kilometres (6,500 feet).
The pipeline was laid by the special pipe-laying vessel Pioneering Spirit, which is the area of some six football pitches. Putin and Erdogan watched via video link in Istanbul as the last section was welded and laid into the sea by the vessel.
GAS TO START BEING PUMPED AT END OF 2019
The onshore section of the pipeline in Turkey still needs to be built and TurkStream expects the gas to start being pumped at the end of 2019.
The aim is that half of the gas pumped through the pipeline will go to ensure the energy needs of western Turkish cities like Istanbul, Bursa and Izmir and the other half sent on to other European countries.
Despite in theory being on opposite sides of the Syrian civil war, regime backer Russia and rebel supporter Turkey have worked closely to end the conflict and stave off a government assault to re-take the key region of Idlib.
"We have never determined our bilateral relations with Russia according to demands or pressure from other countries," Erdoğan said to loud applause.
PUTIN: TURKSTREAM COULD NOT HAVE BEEN RELEASED WITHOUT ERDOĞAN
Putin meanwhile personally praised Erdoğan, saying the TurkStream project could not have been released without the Turkish president.
"Such a project needs political will and courage. Because in the circumstances of growing competition such projects cannot be without this," he said.
Both leaders also reaffirmed their goal to lift annual bilateral trade volumes to $100 billion, which Putin said was the same as between Russia and China.
"Why should it be less with Turkey? We will achieve this result. I don't even doubt this," said Putin.
Hailing relations between the two countries, Erdogan called Russia a "reliable" partner for Turkey and "important" natural gas provider that Turkey can cooperate with in the long run.
Turkey's solidarity with the Russian leadership and people pave the way for bigger projects for both sides, he added.
The TurkStream project has many advantages not only for Turkey, but also for its region and neighboring countries, he said.
"RUSSIAN GAS PIPELINE TO TURKEY TO HELP ENSURE ENERGY SECURITY"
A planned Russian natural gas pipeline to Turkey will help ensure European energy security, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday.
The TurkStream pipeline will fuel Turkish economic development and be an "important factor in ensuring pan-European energy security," Putin said in his speech.
Turkey will become a "major European hub" for the energy sector, Putin said.
He expressed confidence that Russia's trade turnover with Turkey could reach 100 billion dollars a year, as Russia has achieved with neighbouring China.
The lines when finished are expected to supply Russian gas to European markets through Turkish territories. Together the two 930-kilometer (578-mile) lines via the Black Sea will carry 31.5 billion cubic meters (1.1 trillion cubic feet) of natural gas annually.
Turkey relies on imports for its energy needs and Russia is its top supplier for natural gas. It bought 28 billion cubic meters last year. That gas is currently transported through another line under the Black Sea and the onshore West Line through Ukraine, which is mired in conflict with Russia.
