Turkish Energy Minister: Three Arab Countries May Join Turkey Gas Supply Project

Istanbul, Aug 4 (KUNA) -- Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar announced on Tuesday that three Arab countries -- Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan -- may join a new project to supply gas to Turkey and from there to Europe. Bayraktar stated in an interview with the state-run TRT channel that Ankara is discussing projects with Iraq, which in their first phase would involve supplying Iraqi power plants with natural gas using Turkish infrastructure, partially covering Iraq’s fuel needs for electricity generation. He noted that Turkey is considering building a gas pipeline along the route of the planned extension of the oil pipeline to Basra, as well as near existing power lines. He explained that this project would enable the transport of Qatari gas and other natural gas produced in Gulf Arab countries through Iraq to Turkey and then to the European market. Bayraktar said, “An alternative route could pass through Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Syria, after which the gas would flow into Turkey,” emphasizing that his country possesses one of the most advanced gas infrastructures in the region. He added that Turkey has built more than 20,000 kilometers of high-pressure main gas pipelines and approximately 220,000 kilometers of distribution networks to supply gas to homes and businesses. On August 1, Turkey and Iraq signed an agreement for the transport and shipment of Iraqi crude oil via a pipeline to the Ceyhan port, stipulating a minimum daily volume of 750,000 barrels. (End) TA/RJ