Russia ratifies bill on TurkStream natural gas pipeline

By Emre Gurkan Abay

MOSKOW (AA) - Russia announced Friday that it had approved a bill to ratify the TurkStream natural gas pipeline project.

The bill was passed by the Russian government and was sent to the Duma, the lower house of Russia's parliament, Moscow said in a statement.

The Russian Energy Ministry and Foreign Ministry jointly prepared the bill on the project, meant to supply natural gas to Turkey and further countries through Turkey.

TurkStream, announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin during a 2014 visit to Turkey, would carry gas from Russia under the Black Sea to Turkey's Thrace region. One line, with 15.75 billion cubic meters of capacity, is expected to supply the Turkish market, while a second line is set to carry gas to Europe.

The agreement on the project entered into force through publication in Turkey’s Official Gazette on Dec. 6.

Turkey’s parliament ratified a bill for the TurkStream agreement on Dec. 2 and it was signed into law by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.