ANKARA, Turkey, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Russian and Turkish officials, who met in Turkey, said they are pleased with developments in the Blue Stream natural gas pipeline.
State-owned Turkish Pipeline Corp. said in October it wasn't renewing its 25-year natural gas deal through the so-called Western pipeline because Gazprom wasn't offering a discount to Ankara.
Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz noted that a deal with Russia for the Blue Stream pipeline, which carries more than 200 billion cubic feet of natural gas to Turkey, was still in place.
Yildiz met with Gazprom chief Alexei Miller to in Ankara to discuss the bilateral energy relationship.
"(Both sides) highlighted successful operation of the Blue Stream gas pipeline," said Gazprom in a statement. "The Turkish party highly appreciated Gazprom's readiness to immediately supply gas to country's domestic consumers in case of shortages by feeding additional amounts along this route."
Turkey is a key energy hub for the region, hosting a series of oil and natural pipelines. Europe is keen to see Turkey play a role in the Southern Corridor, a network of pipelines meant to break Russia's grip on the energy sector.
"During the meeting the parties agreed on cooperation expansion in the medium and long term as well as on main commercial conditions and amounts of gas supplies from Russia to Turkey in 2012," said Gazprom.
