In statements about the pipeline natural gas Nord Stream was promoted by its CEO Gazprom Alexei Miller late on Thursday (14/10). Speaking to state-run Russian television station Channel One he said that a large part of it may need to be replacedwhile Russia plans to increase gas exports through the Black Sea and Turkey.
Gas pipelines Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, built to transport gas from Russia to Germany through the bottom of the Baltic Sea, were damaged last month, leaking a large amount of gas.
The incidents are being investigated while the Russia spoke of an “act of international terrorism” and pointed to the West as responsible, while the European Union spoke of “sabotage”.
The two pipelines, which stretch more than 1,000 kilometers undersea, were not operating when the leaks occurred.
“Experts say that in order to reopen after such a terrorist act, it is necessary to cut a very large section of pipeline, a long distance away, and build a new section on that section,” Miller told the television station.
“And to restore its integrity, we need to bring this pipeline to the surface. And you understand, it’s one thing to be empty, yes, and another to be filled with sea water for hundreds of kilometers,” he underlined.
On Wednesday, Miller, head of Russia’s state-controlled natural gas monopoly, said repairs to the Nord Stream pipeline would take more than a year.
Hub in Turkey
Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier this week that the Turkey is the best route to redirect gas supplies to the European Union after the Nord Stream pipeline leaks. He proposed to create a gas hub in Turkey.
Miller said, as reported by the Athens News Agency, that Russia will begin “concrete” talks with Turkey next week regarding these proposals.
He added that Russia could increase gas supplies to Turkey by building new pipelines parallel to the TurkStream pipeline that passes through the Black Sea and added that the documentation of this plan is already being prepared.
Miller also said gas supplies via the Black Sea could reach 63 billion cubic meters (bcm) a year – compared to the 55 bcm capacity for each of the Nord Stream pipelines and the pipeline’s 31.5 bcm TurkStream.
Source: News Beast
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