Turkmen gas could be exported via Turkey

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

Gas from Turkmenistan could be transferred to other countries through Turkey once the Southern Gas Corridor is commissioned, the head of the Transit Petroleum Pipeline Department at Turkey’s Energy and Natural Resources Ministry said May 30.

Speaking at the Ashgabat International Energy Charter Forum, Reha Aykul Muratoğlu said Turkey had diversified natural gas supplies by sourcing gas from Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran.

He also said Turkey was using LNG and that the country’s domestic natural gas consumption was expected to be around 50 billion to 60 billion cubic meters (bcm) from 2020 onwards.

“To meet this demand, Turkey is actively seeking diversification of sources through various projects including those of the Southern Gas Corridor whose value chain is $45 billion. The Southern Gas Corridor projects plan to bring natural gas from the Caspian Sea to Europe. It includes three major pipeline projects: the expansion of the South Caucasus Pipeline through Azerbaijan and Georgia, the construction of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) from Azerbaijan through Georgia and Turkey to Europe, and the construction of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) through Greece, Albania and into Italy and onto Western Europe. As much as 72 percent of TANAP’s construction has already been completed, and once the Southern Gas Corridor is commissioned, Turkmenistan will be able to access other markets,” he said.

According to him, the Turkish Stream project is high on the agenda of the Russian Federation and Turkey.
“The project consists of four sections, two offshore and two onshore lines. For European deliveries, there should be gas sales and purchase agreements which are yet to be achieved,” he said.

Although no agreements have been made between Turkey, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and EU on the delivery of Turkmen gas to Europe, discussions are ongoing to this end.

“Discussions and negotiations between the parties have been continuing for some time. So far no concrete outcome has been achieved but we are hopeful,” he said.

Muratoğlu also said the Eastern Mediterranean was an emerging energy source in the world.

“We think that if a holistic approach is followed here, Eastern Mediterranean gas has the potential to supply gas to both Turkey and Europe,” he said.