Turkey favors gas deal extension, Russia hopes nuclear inter-government deal

Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz said that Turkey had told Russian Deputy Premier Igor Sechin that it wanted to extend a 6 bcm energy contract with Russia.

"However, we are still negotiating whether or not to transfer some part of it to private sector," Yildiz told a joint press conference with Sechin in Istanbul.

Yildiz and Sechin discussed new natural gas projects, cooperation in nuclear power plants, and cooperation in third countries during their meeting.

Also, they debated the location of a logistic center to be set up in the Russian Federation.

"We have made progress in transportation, and seen a positive approach to tax rate and quotas of companies that have the specifications to export poultry," Yildiz said.

Yildiz said Turkish Petroleum Corporation and Russia's Gazprom were carrying out a joint project in Iraq.

Four sub-committees had been set up for establishment of nuclear power plants, which would meet every two weeks, Yildiz also said.

Also, Sechin said Turkey and Russia would hold talks in Moscow on March 9 on cooperation in establishing a nuclear power plant.

"I hope we can receive a draft intergovernmental agreement on this cooperation from Turkey till the end of next week," Sechin said.

Sechin said Turkey and Russia were close to a final decision.

A Turkish-Russian consortium led by Russia's Atomstroyexport had been the only bidder in a 2008 tender to build country's first nuclear power plant. However, Turkey's state-run electricity wholesaler TETAS canceled the tender in November 2009.

On January 13, Turkey and Russian Federation signed a joint declaration on cooperation in establishment of nuclear power plant in Turkey within the framework of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's formal visit to the Russian capital of Moscow.

Executives of the two countries had said they would sign an intergovernmental deal on establishment of nuclear power plant in Turkey if they reached a compromise.

The Russian deputy premier expressed his thought on Friday that poultry exports from Turkey would begin soon.

Russia's Deputy Premier Igor Sechin said that six of the 11 Turkish producers passed "standard tests" in poultry exports.

"Exports to Russia will begin soon," Sechin said.

Sechin said Russia had allocated 500,000 tons of quota for poultry exports, and was ready to increase the quota if satisfied.

/World Bulletin/