Gas supply via Turkey to reach 120bln cu. m.

Head of the Turkish state-owned pipeline company Botas Fazil Shenel, was quoted on Thursday by the Turkish news agency Anadolu as reporting that 120 billion cubic metres of gas will be exported to Europe via the country in 15 to 20 years.

"All our works and projects being carried out focus on this," Mr Shenel said. "The existence of other projects does not reduce the importance of pipeline Nabucco. This is one of attractive projects which can meet Europe's gas demand and will be implemented sooner or later. Our goal is to provide gas transportation on this pipeline by 2019 at the latest."

Apart from Nabucco, the opportunity of gas exports to Europe via Turkey on Trans-Adriatic gas pipeline (TAP) and ITGI is also being explored.These projects have different objectives and capacities, so there is no competition amongst them. Particularly Nabucco sees gas exports to Austria; TAP-to Italy via Greece and Albania and ITGI-to Italy via Greece, Mr Shenel said.

He said Turkey's demand in gas grows. It is expected to reach 60 billion cubic metres per annum after five years. Works to provide a gas supply inside the country and make it profitable from its international operations are being carried out, he said.

Both sides continue to hold meetings to provide gas export to the Balkan countries, and in particular, to provide alternative gas export to Montenegro, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia and Romania where Russian gas is delivered. Russia is a reliable partner. However, the price for its gas is too high for these countries and they have no alternative gas import sources.


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