Turkey expects to start work on the implementation of the gas hub project proposed by Russia in early 2023, said the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey Fatih Donmez, RIA Novosti reported.

"By the end of the year we intend to define the "road map". Accordingly, we'll start implementation of the project by the beginning of 2023", Donmez said in an interview to NTV channel.

According to him, Turkey is holding a series of talks with potential suppliers of gas to ensure, through the project, the energy security of Europe and the balance in the market.

Presidents of Russia and Turkey Vladimir Putin and Tayyip Erdogan have previously instructed to study in detail and quickly the issue of creating a gas hub in Turkey, through which, in particular, Russia could move gas transit from the Northern Streams to the Black Sea region and Turkey. Erdogan believes that Europe could receive Russian gas via Turkey. The gas distribution center under the Russian president's proposed hub project in Turkey would be in Thrace, the European part of the country, Donmez reported earlier.

Russia supplies about 44 percent of the gas consumed in Turkey.