2024-08-04 10:36:39
Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar arrived in Ashgabat for talks on the purchase of Turkmen gas, Day.Az reported on Tuesday, citing Turkish media.
“Today, July 30, Alparslan Bayraktar will hold talks with the President of Turkmengaz Maksat Babayev, the Minister of Energy Annageldi Saparov and the President of Turkmengeology Gurbangeldi Garliyev. Tomorrow, the Turkish minister will be received by the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov,” Turkish media accompanying the minister reported.
On the eve of this visit, Bayraktar stated that he planned to discuss with the Turkmen leadership the details of transporting Turkmen gas to Turkey via Iran and Azerbaijan. Turkmen gas could reach Europe via Turkey.
“Turkmenistan can initially export 1.5-2.0 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year to Turkey. In March, Turkey signed a Declaration of Intent on cooperation with Turkmenistan in the field of natural gas and hydrocarbons, and in June an agreement was signed on the supply of Turkmen gas to Turkey,” Bayraktar said recently.
In his opinion, there is no need for large investments in infrastructure for delivering gas from Turkmenistan to Turkey via Iran and Azerbaijan.
“There are no problems with the Azerbaijani side, and already in June BOTAS signed a transit agreement with SOCAR. I hope Iran will also demonstrate the necessary constructive position so that Turkmen gas can begin to flow to Turkey next year,” Bayraktar noted.
He did not rule out that a new gas pipeline would be needed in the future.
Bayraktar also mentioned that Turkey is working on liquefied natural gas (LNG) purchase contracts for the 2027-2037 period and they will be presented to the public soon.
Turkey’s total gas demand is about 50 billion cubic meters per year, but the country also positions itself as a gas hub, with 5 LNG terminals of varying capacity and a developed network of gas pipelines.
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