A proposed $3,400 million pipeline to carry Russian natural gas to Israel via Turkey would be carried out on a buildoperate-transfer (BOT) basis, according to Isik Eyubglu, acting director-general of the state gas and pipeline agency Botas (MEED 23:2:96, Regional Focus). Turkey also plans to tap into the line if the project wins approval.

The project was submitted for consideration by Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Energy Minister Gonen Segev during a visit by Botas officials to Tel Aviv in early 1996.

Israel would consume 4,000 million-6,000 million cubic metres a year (mcm/y) of the pipeline's 16,000 mcm/y throughput.

Turkey would itself consume 8,00010,000 mcm/y. The pipeline's capacity could be adjusted if other countries along the route also wished to purchase the gas, Eyubglu was reported as saying by the Anatolia news agency.

The 1,120-kilometre Turkish section of the line would cost around $1,400 million. Its route would run from the border with Armenia through the cities of Erzurum, Erzincan and Sivas. It would then pass south through Kayseri and Adana before entering the Mediterranean.