Putin, Tsipras discuss construction of gas pipeline in Greece, Turkey

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras have discussed the planned construction of a gas pipeline on the territory of Greece and Turkey in a phone conversation, the Kremlin press service said Friday, Sputnik reported.

“Practical steps to implement the agreements reached during Alexis Tsipras’ recent working visit to Russia were discussed, in particular the planned construction of gas transportation infrastructure through Turkey and Greece.”

During Tsipras' visit to Moscow in early April, Putin said that the Turkish Stream pipeline could help Greece become one of the main power distribution centers in Europe and attract serious investment into the country's economy.

The pipeline is expected to become operational in December 2016. According to Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, up to 47 billion cubic meters of gas can be supplied annually to European customers through the gas transit infrastructure that is to be built in Greece.

In December 2014, Russian energy giant Gazprom announced the construction of the Turkish Stream pipeline, which will run across the Black Sea from Russia to Turkey.