Interview with Andreas Marazis on the impact of Turkish Stream for Europe and Ukraine
The EU’s energy diversification strategy aims to find alternative sources to Russian gas, responding to the concerns of natural gas disruptions via Ukraine since 2008. Kremlin, on the other hand, is promoting alternative pipeline projects that – if implemented – would bypass Ukraine.
Recent suggestions propose linking the Turkish Stream to the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) – an act that will supply Turkey and Europe with Russian gas bypassing Ukraine. Trend News Agency, based in Azerbaijan, interviewed ENC Head Researcher Mr. Andreas Marazis on the issue.
Mr. Marazis argues that the Russian gas company Gazprom could retain its position in the Southern European markets and in Turkey if connecting the Turkish Stream to TAP and TANAP. “Ironically, the Southern Gas Corridor has been primarily promoted as a strategy to emancipate the EU’s gas supply from Russia and improve ‘energy security'”, he claims.
However, the connection would be bad news for Ukraine. If going through with it, Russian gas companies could bypass Ukraine in order to supply Europe. Losing its gas revenues would be devastating for Ukraine and its stabilization.
Read the full article here: http://en.trend.az/other/commentary/2753278.html