Reuters: Turkey, Azerbaijan seen signing gas pipeline accord next week

Turkey and Azerbaijan are expected to sign an inter-governmental agreement next week on the Trans-Anatolian natural gas pipeline project (TANAP), planned to carry Azeri natural gas across Turkey to Europe.

The project, which will pipe 16 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz II field, is seen costing between $5 billion and $7 billion and construction is expected to start at the end of 2013 or in early 2014.

"The work has entered its final stage. The inter-governmental agreement is expected to be signed in Istanbul next week," a senior Turkish official told Reuters.  MORE