Turkmenistan and Turkey aim for long-term cooperation in gas sector
The agreement between BOTAŞ and TurkmenGaz on the start of Turkmen gas supplies to Turkey from March 1, 2025 is called a historic success achieved by the parties after negotiations that began in the 1990s. Answering questions from an Anadolu Agency correspondent, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar said that Turkmen gas is currently supplied to Turkey via Iran. Noting the importance of this agreement for the diversification of gas resources, the minister explained that natural gas comes to Turkey from 14 different points.
Bayraktar added that Turkmen gas supplied to Turkey at an economically competitive price will allow them to provide about 1.5 million households with gas for a year. By the end of 2025, Turkey will receive 1.3 billion cubic meters of gas, but the parties intend to increase this volume and plan to extend the Agreement for 5 years. At the same time, according to the minister, “in the medium and long term, the delivery of Turkmen gas to Turkey and Europe via a pipeline across the Caspian Sea will be the most ideal and correct method from a technical and commercial point of view.”
Oguzhan Akyener, Chairman of the Turkish Energy Strategies Research and Policy Center (TESPAM), told Anadolu that the growing energy integration and cooperation in the Turkic world and Turkey's goal to become a natural gas trading hub have once again put Turkmen gas in the spotlight. Despite the small volumes of supplies, the expert believes that the start of supplies is an important strategic step for both sides. For Turkmenistan, this is a new step in developing natural gas exports and diversifying sales markets. According to Akyener, in the future, with the creation of favorable conditions for investment and the establishment of export corridors, Turkmenistan will be able to increase gas export volumes to 65 billion cubic meters by 2050.
As for Turkey, for the first time in more than 20 years, the country will receive gas via pipeline from a country with which it does not have a common border. The supplies of Turkmen gas will help strengthen Turkey's energy security and its position as a gas hub, allowing it to move from the role of a gas importer to an exporter, supplying gas to Europe. Turkey already has export routes to Bulgaria and Greece.
In answers to questions from an Anadolu Agency correspondent published on March 2, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said that another one will be added to them in the coming days: the country will begin exporting natural gas to Nakhchivan. Noting that the construction of the Igdir-Nakhchivan pipeline has been completed, the minister said: "The opening ceremony will be held with the participation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. From next week, Nakhchivan's gas needs will be met through Turkey."
ORIENT
