Putin: Russia mulls connecting Italy to TurkStream pipeline

MOSCOW, Oct 25 (PRIME) -- Russia is considering connecting Italy to the TurkStream gas pipeline through Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece and other countries, President Vladimir Putin told reporters late Wednesday after talks with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.

“Regarding infrastructure issues, infrastructure development issues, we are studying all possibilities, including connecting Italy along various routes to TurkStream. This can be through Bulgaria, maybe even through Serbia, Hungary, or through Greece,” Putin said.

The TurkStream pipeline was designed to consist of two branches with a length of over 900 kilometers and a capacity of 15.75 billion cubic meters each. One of them, finished in May 2018, is to carry Russian gas to Turkey, while the other is to transit gas to the European countries through Turkey and is to be finished in 2019.

Putin also said that Russian gas transportation projects are not aimed at infringing upon the interests of other countries, including Ukraine.

“I would like to emphasize once again that they (projects) are not directed against any third country, not aimed at infringing upon the interests of Ukraine. They are designed to ensure growing needs of Europe’s energy industry and economy in the near future,” Putin said.

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