Officials Of Botas And Gazprom Meet To Discuss Russian Natural Gas

ANKARA - Officials of Pipeline Transportation Inc. (BOTAS) and Russian Gazprom firm met on Monday to end the discussions if the formula used to set the price in the Blue Stream project between Turkey and Russia is defective.
Exclusion of Turusgas firm which was an intermediary firm in gas purchase from Russia via Bulgaria from the gas purchase is also expected to be taken up in the talks.
Turkey is foreseen to buy 6 billion cubic meters of gas from the first line coming from Russia via Bulgaria annually. Under the agreement made in 1998, Turkey is foreseen to buy 8 billion cubic meters of gas annually through Turusgas for 23 years.
Turkey's purchasing 2 billion cubic meters of natural gas from the Blue Stream which has been stopped as of March 12 till August is in question for the year 2003.
No statement has been made regarding the technical talks so far.
(BRC-AY) 16.06.2003