Energy services firm Petrofac has hailed the start of gas injection for a giant project to deliver energy from Russia to Turkey.
TurkStream consists of a new pipeline system to deliver billions of cubic metres of gas per year across the Black Sea, with first gas to be delivered by the end of this year.
Natural gas has now started to be introduced to build up pipeline stocks as part of commissioning activities.
In 2017 Petrofac was awarded a contract worth £311.3m for the development of onshore pipelines and the gas receiving terminal near Kıyıköy on the Turkish Black Sea coast by project coordinator South Stream Transport.
Activities are now in their final stages.
TurkSteam starts on the Russian coast near the town of Anapa stretching 578miles through the Black Sea to the Thrace region of Turkey where the Petrofac facility lies.
Roberto Bertocco, Petrofac’s chief commercial officer said: “We are proud and happy to have reached such a significant milestone on this important project, working with South Stream Transport to help open a vital gas export channel to Turkey and wider South-Eastern Europe.
“Work has progressed well to date and our focus is on continuing the remaining activities in a safe and quality manner, as we look forward to the successful completion of the final phases and our scheduled handover of the project later this year.”