The Presidents of Turkey and Russia, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin, ceremonially put into operation the section of the "Turkey Stream" gas pipeline by symbolically turning the valve placed on the stage, and were joined by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, and the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Boyko Borisov.
The second leg of this gas pipeline, which Bulgarians and Serbs call the "Balkan stream", will stretch from Russia, through Bulgaria and Serbia, all the way to Hungary.
At the ceremony in Istanbul, workers on two sides of the gas pipeline, from Russia and Turkey, participated via video link, reports RTS.
Erdogan said that "Turkey Stream" is an indicator of good cooperation between Turkey and Russia and a historic energy project in the region, and thanks to it, millions of homes will be supplied with gas.
Putin said that the project is important for the citizens of all of Europe.
The capacity of the gas pipeline is 15,75 billion cubic meters of gas per year.
Turkey has secured the position of the main gas transit hub for the whole of Southeast Europe. They have two gas pipelines for the inflow of Russian gas, and "Turkish Stream" is the third direct route from Russia.
RTS says that the second leg, which goes through Bulgaria to Serbia and on to Hungary, and which Bulgaria and Serbia call the "Balkan stream", will have the same capacity - 15,75 billion cubic meters of gas per year.
In December, Serbia finished laying pipes for its 403-kilometer route from Zaječar to Horgoš.
"The Turkish Stream gas pipeline is of great importance for the future of Serbia, for attracting investments and further economic and industrial progress of the country," said Vučić before the start of the ceremony in Istanbul.
Bonus video:
