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TurkStream second leg to go via Bulgaria, not Greece

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The Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak has said that the second leg of the TurkStream pipeline will go through Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary.

TurkStream, one of several Gazprom-sponsored gas pipeline projects bringing gas into Europe, is set to pump 31 billion m³ per year of Russian gas to Europe under the Black Sea. The pipeline is part of Russia's push to limit the gas that is transiting through the Ukraine and enters the European continent in Thrace, Turkey's European territory, close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria.

What has been unclear is the direction the Russian gas will travel after leaving Turkey. The first leg of the journey will be on Turkish territory and largely used to supply Istanbul. This direct supply will replace the present transit which takes it through Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria.

Mr Novak reiterated a statement already made by Gazprom that the first leg of TurkStream will begin pumping on 1 January 2020. The new announcement, that Russia has chosen Bulgaria and not Greece for the next leg, has caused some consternation. The existing Bulgaria to Turkey pipeline will have the direction of gas flow reversed. 

So far, authorities in Bulgaria have yet to comment on the Russian announcement. 

Mr Novak made the announcement in Antalya, on the Mediterranean Turkish coast, at a fringe meeting of the Russia-Turkey Intergovernmental Economic Committee.

Bulgaria used around 4 bcm/y of gas, leaving over 10 bcm/y for other countries. It was announced by TASS, the state-owned Russian news agency, that Bulgaria and Serbia can expect gas supplies by the start of 2020, Hungary in 2021 and Slovakia in 2022.

Previously, Bulgaria was considered as the entry point for Russian gas into Europe under the now defunct South Stream project. Russia ended the project after the European Commission President at the time, José Manuel Barroso threatened sanctioned against Bulgaria, arguing that the project contravened EU rules.

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