The implementation of the roadmap for establishing an international gas hub on Turkish soil may commence before the year's end, according to a source within Turkish diplomatic circles, as reported to TASS.
"An agreement has been reached between the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Gazprom to establish and finalize the project roadmap, paving the way for tangible progress in its implementation. This development could potentially occur by the end of this year," the source specified.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak and Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar held discussions regarding the establishment of an international gas hub in Turkey as part of the Russian Energy Week hosted in Moscow in October. Following their talks, they conveyed their optimism that the roadmap for this project would be finalized in the near future.
According to Necdet Pamir, a prominent Turkish energy expert and former member of the management of the state oil company TPAO, the development of the roadmap represents the initial phase of the project aimed at establishing a hub in Thrace, the European part of Turkey. However, there are various challenges that need to be addressed for the project to come to fruition.
"Setting up a hub could be highly beneficial for Turkey, as it would enable the trading of gas from various countries and the formation of gas prices here. While the prospects are promising, it's essential to address several challenges in order to make this project a reality. The roadmap preparation marks just the initial phase, and the endeavor will involve establishing the necessary economic, legal, and technical infrastructure," explained the expert to TASS.
According to him, this entails the liberalization of the Turkish economy, the formulation of legislative measures governing the establishment and operation of the energy center, and the potential expansion of the existing gas pipeline system should other countries become involved in the project.
"There are two gas pipelines in operation, namely the 'TurkStream' (with two lines capable of transporting 15.75 billion cubic meters per year - TASS), and the 'Blue Stream' (with a capacity of 16 billion cubic meters of gas) facilitating the transportation of gas across the Black Sea. While one branch of the TurkStream adequately fulfills Turkey's gas requirements, the other is designed for energy supply to Europe. However, the current infrastructure falls short of what's needed for the hub. Additional gas pipelines must be constructed," the source explained.
In his view, ambitious endeavors like establishing an energy hub should be undertaken with a focus on the long-term horizon. "These are extended, not short-term endeavors. Initially, a roadmap should be developed to provide an understanding of the project's scope. I don't believe that substantial progress has been made in this regard thus far," Pamir commented.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: btr/Creative Commons 2.5
Based on materials from TASS