Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz on Monday said that "Turkey currently purchased natural gas from five countries and that they wished to see Qatar as the sixth country from which Turkey purchased natural gas."
Minister Taner Yildiz on Monday met with his Qatari counterpart Muhammad Salih al-Sada in Qatar's capital, Doha.
The two ministers replied to questions of press corps after their tete-a-tete meeting which was closed to the press corps.
"Qatar is the world's biggest supplier of LNG (liquid natural gas). Turkey and Qatar to date did not have a long term contract on the LNG. Yet we hope to conclude such a long term contract," Yildiz noted.
"At the present time, we purchase natural gas from five countries. We want to see Qatar as the sixth country from which we purchase natural gas. I believe that Qatar will also make investments in Turkey," Yildiz stated.
"We would be pleased with long-term contracts"
Muhammad Salih al-Sada, in his part, said that Turkey was a great economy and that they wanted to boost cooperation between Turkey and Qatar.
Al-Sada reminded that Qatar in the past sold LNG to Turkey by cargo.
"As a country, we would be pleased with long-term contracts. Spot LNG trade takes place in a very dynamic market. Talks on this issue between our two countries continue. If we can agree on price and conditions, we can sell spot natural gas," al-Sada stated.
"We are interested in many investments in Turkey, one of which is establishing an LNG terminal," al-Sada said.
"We are holding talks with a Turkish company for the erection of an LNG terminal. We have not yet reached an agreement on the matter. We will share the details with the public opinion once an agreement gets reached," al-Sada also said.
Turkey presently purchases natural gas from Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Algeria and Nigeria. During winter months, when the demand for natural gas is higher than usual, Turkey makes spot purchase of natural gas from Qatar.
Yildiz attended conference of Arab Union of Electricity
Yildiz attended the fourth general conference of Arab Union of Electricity in Doha
Speaking at the conference, Yildiz said that energy was important for all humanity, adding that energy should be operated in a way which would be beneficial for everybody.
A regional cooperation should be made in this area, he added.
Noting that Turkey was ready for a regional cooperation, Yildiz said that there was a great potential especially in renewable energy area.
