Payment for Russian gas in rubles is in the near future: Turkey

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Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak cited Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez as saying that the agreement to pay in rubles for 25% of Russian gas supplied to Turkey will take effect in the near future. 

This comes after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan convened with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Samarkand's SCO summit last week, where they agreed on paying for 25% of Russian gas provided to Turkey in rubles.

The Russian President and his Turkish counterpart also resolved the issues that took place during the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, which was launched on May 12, 2010, by the governments of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey. 

Two sources said, as quoted by Reuters, that Turkish contractor IC Ictas re-captured the deal to build the plant run by Russia's Rosatom on Friday, The Russian state nuclear energy company had terminated a contract with IC Ictas last month due to "numerous violations".

Donmez said, "Turkey will pay for 25% of the natural gas purchased from Russia in rubles. The corresponding agreement will come into force in the near future. The fact that Turkey will buy gas from Russia in rubles instead of dollars will reduce the need for dollars and reduce costs."

Works at Akkuyu NPP to continue at accelerated pace

Donmez further relayed that the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant (NPP) will be maintained at an accelerated pace, with the first unit of the NPP due to be launched in 2023.

"An agreement has been reached on the Akkuyu NPP. Our ministry, especially our president, has made intensive efforts to bring the parties together and overcome problems. After some time, work will continue at an accelerated pace. The project schedule is binding on us. We must commission the first unit in 2023," he stressed.

Akkuyu is being built by Russia’s state nuclear energy firm Rosatom. The two countries signed a cooperation agreement in 2010 and began construction in 2018.