Serbia may join Russia's Turkish Stream gas pipeline project - Serbian ambassador
"The question of whether Belgrade should join the Turkish Stream construction is currently being considered," Terzic said adding that the Serbian government has preserved interest in gas cooperation with Russia. The Serbian diplomat added that Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak was expected to visit Belgrade in the next four weeks. "Novak will pay a visit to Serbia late in April or early in May," Terzic said. "The meeting to be held at the level of co-chairmen of the Inter-Governmental Committee for Trade, Economic and Scientific-Technological Cooperation will discuss preparations for the Committee's next meeting due to take place in Serbia this year," the Serbian ambassador said. Turkish Stream Gas Pipeline Project Russia's Gazprom and Turkey's Botas Petroleum Pipeline Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding on December 1, 2014, envisaging the construction of a gas pipeline across the Black Sea to Turkey. The Turkish Stream gas pipeline will have a capacity of 63 billion cubic meters, of which 50 billion cubic meters will be supplied to a new gas hub on the Turkish-Greek border. Russian President Putin announced on December 1 the project to build the South Stream gas pipeline was closed due to the European Union's unconstructive approach to cooperation in that sphere, including Bulgaria's decision to stop the construction of the pipeline's stretch on its territory. Instead, Russia will build a gas pipeline to Turkey where a gas hub on the border with Europe will be created, Putin said. South Stream was Gazprom's global infrastructure project designed to build a gas pipeline with a capacity of 63 billion cubic meters across the Black Sea to Southern and Central Europe in order to diversify natural gas export routes and eliminate transit risks. The Turkish Stream gas pipeline will run 660 km (410 miles) along the old corridor of the South Stream project abandoned by Russia and 250 km (155 miles) in the new corridor towards Turkey's European part.