Greece worried it might be excluded from TurkStream

Athens is concerned that it may be excluded from the Gazprom-backed construction of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline as Slovakia has proposed an alternative route for Russian gas to Europe.

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has met with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow and proposed a plan that would transfer gas from the Turkish border through Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia, thereby bypassing Greece.

Slovakia’s proposal was met with the approval of Hungary, which has recently signed a declaration of intent stating that the pipeline would pass through Greece. The same declaration was signed by Serbia, Turkey and FYROM.

Moscow needs the approval of the European Commission on the exact route of the pipeline. Construction company Saipem will commence construction on the first four sections at the end of the month.

In addition, the Turkish Stream has been renamed TurkStream.

The announcement made by Slovakia’s PM Fico has raised questions where exactly the Turkish Stream pipeline will go to after entering Turkey.

Earlier this week Natural Gas Europe pointed to the clashing gas hub ambitions of Bulgaria and Greece. Both EU member states border Turkey.

Edited from various sources by Elizabeth Corner

Sources: Greek Reporter, Novonite.com

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