ANKARA
Turkey attaches great importance to diversification of energy routes and source countries both for Turkey and for Europe, Turkish European Affairs Minister and Chief Negotiator has said Tuesday in Hungary.
Volkan Bozkir, Turkish European Affairs Minister and Chief Negotiator, said at a press conference of Europe's Foreign Ministers meeting in Budapest on Tuesday: "Standing at a crossroads between major energy producers and consumer markets, Turkey is not only an end market, but has also established itself as a reliable transit country, offering short, secure and sustainable route for the energy resources of its energy rich neighbourhood."
"Therefore we attach great importance to diversification of both routes and source countries."
Bozkir said that, by creating its own energy supply security, Turkey aims to contribute to the energy security of Europe.
He said that the Trans Anatolian Pipeline, TANAP, is a strategically important project to such an end, which ensures energy supply security for both Turkey and Europe.
He said: "It is the central link in the Southern Gas Corridor. Turkey values its extensive energy cooperation with Russia. We understand that Russia’s new pipeline proposal raised interest in the region."
"We will be in a better position to make an assessment on this proposal upon the completion of the feasibility study."
'Critical' pipeline
Turkey will organize a G20 Energy Ministers meeting for the first time in G20 history as the term president of the group since energy is one of the main priorities of the international community, Bozkir said.
Last month the Presidents of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the launch of TANAP’s construction in the eastern Turkish province of Kars.
From Turkish soil, the Caspian gas is expected to enter the planned Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) crossing Greece and Albania to Italy.
The 2,000 kilometer-long, $11 billion Trans Anatolian Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP) is a critical part of the Southern Gas Corridor, which will deliver gas from Azerbaijan to Europe via Turkey.
TANAP's groundbreaking ceremony was held on March, 17 in Kars.
The pipeline is expected to be completed by 2018 and will carry 6 billion meters of natural gas to Turkey and a further 10 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe by 2019.
Azerbaijani SOCAR plans to increase the pipeline’s capacity from 16 bcm to 31 bcm by 2026.
