Turkish energy minister confirmed Wednesday that the discount deal forimported gas from Russia's Gazpromwillbe signed, denouncing rumors of a disputein the agreement process.
"The discount has been obtained as announced beforeand the signatures will follow," said Energy Minister Taner Yildiz,speaking to the press at the 14th Turkish International Oil and Gas summit in Ankara.
Yildiz had announced on Feb. 27 that Russiaagreed to give Turkey a10.25 percent discount on natural gas suppliedfrom March onwards.
Rumors allegedthe Russian side requestedthe discount be applied toonly apart of the gas instead of the entiresale.
Yildiz also underlined thatAzerbaijani gas prices would be lower thanRussian gas becauseTurkey holds 30 percent shares in the Trans Anatolian Pipeline,TANAP that will carry gas from the Caspian Sea nearAzerbaijanto Europe.
TANAPstartedconstructionon Tuesday with a groundbreaking ceremony with the participation of three head of states from Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Russia had scrappedthe SouthStream pipelineprojectto cross the Black Sea to Bulgaria following a row with the EU and instead, announced the launch ofa project, named the 'Turkish Stream' that would cross from Turkey's northwest.
"The Turkish Stream is not a project to replace TANAP," Yildiz said.
(http://aaenergyterminal.com)
