South Stream Gas Pipeline Re-route via Turkey Possible

Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said on Wednesday that Ankara would consider the passage of the South Stream natural gas pipeline through Turkey if Russia made such a request.

The future of the 2400 km (1,490 mile) line from Russia via the Black Sea to Europe, avoiding Ukraine, has been cast into doubt after Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Background
South Stream is Gazprom's global infrastructure project aimed at constructing a gas pipeline with a capacity of 63 billion cubic meters across the Black Sea to Southern and Central Europe for the purpose of diversifying the natural gas export routes and eliminating transit risks.

South Stream's offshore section will consist of four lines, each exceeding 930 kilometers.
 

(By Gulsen Solaker, Daren Butler)