Putin puts 'gas hub' plan to Turkey's Erdogan

Record ID: 1693068

  • Title: Putin puts 'gas hub' plan to Turkey's Erdogan
  • Date: 13th October 2022
  • Summary: ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN (OCTOBER 13, 2022) (RUPTLY FOR RUSSIAN POOL - No new usage after November 13, 2022)  VARIOUS OF RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN WAITING FOR TURKISH PRESIDENT RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN WALKING, CHECKING NOTES  VARIOUS OF PUTIN AND ERDOGAN SHAKING HANDS, TAKING PHOTOS, TAKING SEATS  (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:   "Our colleagues in governments and companies who carry out the practical work are now implementing all plans that were proposed. These include the investment process and building of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant. Work is going as planned. Now, 20,000 people are working at the site."  MEETING IN PROCESS  (SOUNDBITE) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:   "As for another energy, hydrocarbons - supplies of our our hydrocarbons, including gas, are continuing in full flow, as per your requests. We are transporting (hydrocarbons) through Turkey to European countries. Turkey has turned out to be the most reliable route for supplies of gas to Europe today." KREMLIN SPOKESMAN DMITRY PESKOV LISTENING  (SOUNDBITE) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:  "We might consider the perspective of building yet another gas pipeline system and creating a gas hub in Turkey for sales to other countries. First of all, of course, European (countries). Only, of course, if they are interested." RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV (LEFT) LISTENING  (SOUNDBITE) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:      "In the course of the work of this hub, which we could create together, of course, it would also be a platform not only for supplies but also for determining the price, because this is a very important issue - the issue of pricing. Today, these prices are sky-high, and we could easily regulate (them) at a normal market level, without any political overtones."  MEETING IN PROCESS
  • Embargoed: 27th October 2022 12:20
  • Keywords: Russia Turkey Ukraine crisis energy gas power plant talks
  • Location: ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN
  • City: ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN
  • Country: Kazakhstan
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001200913102022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday (October 13) that Turkey was the most reliable route to deliver gas to the European Union and proposed to build what he called a supply hub there.
    The proposal comes as Russia looks to maintain its energy leverage over Europe while redirecting supplies away from the Nord Stream Baltic gas pipelines, damaged in explosions last month that are still under investigation.
    "In the course of the work of this hub, which we could create together, of course, it would also be a platform not only for supplies, but also for determining the price, because this is a very important issue - the issue of pricing," Putin told Erdogan at a meeting in Kazakhstan.
    "Today, these prices are sky-high; we could easily regulate [them] at a normal market level, without any political overtones."
    Putin first suggested on Wednesday that Russia could create a major gas hub in Turkey by redirecting supplies intended for the damaged Nord Stream undersea pipelines.
    Swedish and Danish authorities are investigating the blasts as acts of sabotage but have not yet said who they believe was responsible.
    In the televised exchange between the two leaders, Erdogan did not comment on the gas hub idea.
    Erdogan has sought to mediate between Moscow and Kyiv since Putin sent troops into Ukraine on February 24.
    He achieved a rare diplomatic breakthrough when, together with the United Nations, he brokered an agreement in July allowing for the resumption of commercial Ukrainian grain exports from Black Sea ports that Russia had blockaded.
    Putin said at Thursday's meeting that not enough of the grain was going to the poorest countries.
    Russia also says its own grain and fertiliser exports, while not directly targeted by Western sanctions, are being hampered by problems with access to foreign ports and difficulties in obtaining insurance.
    Erdogan told Putin: "We are determined to strengthen and continue the grain exports under the Istanbul agreement and the transfer of Russian grain and fertiliser to less developed countries via Turkey."
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