Putin: Samsun-Ceyhan oil pipeline is interesting, Transneft
Release Date: 2009-08-06
The Turkish project for construction of Samsun-Ceyhan oil pipeline is worth looking at, as Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister of Russia, said after signing the energy cooperation agreement between Russia and Turkey.Putin noted that competition between South Stream and Nabucco pipelines was higher than between Samsun-Ceyhan and Burgas-Alexandrupolis.
Putin emphasized that the parties have agreed “on everything”. “The negotiations were quite difficult; our Turkish friends - I have one of them by my side right now - are tough negotiators. We have found the solutions and reached compromise on all issues”.
Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Erdogan, noted that these projects were not competiting. “This is an extension of the choice”, said Erdogan.
He also noted that, while the projects are being implemented, “no one should refuse from investments. The specialists know perfectly well what resources are available”.
Nikolai Tokarev, President of Transneft who was present at the negotiations, informed the press that construction of Samsun-Ceyhan did not cancel construction of Burgas-Alexandrupolis. “Those are two different projects. Everything is going as planned. Implementation is to start next summer”.
However, Tokarev noted that the Russian party was alarmed by the latest statements by the Bulgarian officials and corresponding inquiries had been sent to Bulgaria.
As Tokarev reminded, currently about 110 mln t of oil and 40 mln t of oil products are transported through the Turkish straights yearly. "This is colossal. It’s the limit", - said Tokarev.
Tokarev mentioned that the capacity of Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline (as well as that of Burgas-Alexandrupolis) could reach 50 mln t.
The working group for studying the resource base of Samsun-Ceyhan will include representatives of Transneft, Rosneft, Gazprom Neft as well as Turkish and Italian companies.
Minister of Energy of Russia and Chairman of the Board of Transneft, Sergey Shmatko, noted that there were yet no exact outlines for construction of Samsun-Ceyhan. "But, judging by the active negotiations, the implementation is likely to be fast”, said the Minister. He noted that Russia will start the construction as soon as economic feasibility and sufficient resource base are confirmed. He confirmed that this project did not contradict the construction of the Bulgarian pipeline. "I believe that both Burgas-Alexandrupolis and Samsun-Ceyhan are the components of the future transit system of the Caspian and Black Sea regions”, - noted Shmatko. He also assured the audience that the decision on start of Samsun-Ceyhan construction would be taken with all the due responsibility.
| Type: | NORMAL |
| Company: | Transneft |
| Country: | Russian Federation |