Preliminary agreement was reached in Ankara on 29 August for an additional 8,000 million cubic metres a year (mcm/y) of Russian natural gas by 2000 through a planned pipeline under the Black Sea. The agreement was signed by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Energy Minister Cumhur Ersumer with the visiting head of Russia's Gazprom, Rem Vyahirev. The agreement also provides for the import of 16,000 mcm/y from 2003 through the pipeline.

Russian gas supplies are expected to meet around 30,000 mcm/y of a total projected Turkish import requirement projection of 50,000-60,000 mcm/y by 2010. Imports are now 8,000-9,000 mcm/y (MEED 9:5:97).

Turkey at present imports about 6,000 mcm/y of natural gas from Russia through an existing pipeline from the Bulgarian border to Ankara. Imports through this pipeline will also be increased through an expansion of its capacity.

The new pipeline is planned at unprecedented depths under the Black Sea previous reports said. Studies on the project, estimated to cost $3,300 million, have been carried out by Petergaz, a joint venture between Gazprom and Hareema of the Netherlands.

Turkey's other main supplier currently is Algeria. Other contracted or potential sources to meet the projection of soaring domestic demand include Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Yemen, Qatar and Nigeria (MEED 30:5:97, Cover Story).