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Natural Gas January 27, 2025 01:40:39 AM

Turkey Pushing to Help EU Replace Ukraine Gas Transit

Anil
Mathews
OilMonster Author
On Friday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban threatened to block the renewal of the EU's entire Russia sanctions framework if Kyiv did not agree to restarting the route.
Turkey Pushing to Help EU Replace Ukraine Gas Transit

SEATTLE (Oil Monster): Turkey is launching a diplomatic effort to restart energy negotiations with the European Union, eyeing the prospect of becoming a major supplier of natural gas, after previous discussions were derailed by tensions with Cyprus.

In comments to POLITICO on Sunday, Turkey’s EU ambassador, Faruk Kaymakci, said that energy cooperation would be put front and center on its agenda, as part of a planned thawing of relations that will include trade talks and political cooperation on wars in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

The push comes as EU member countries like Hungary and Slovakia search for alternatives to Russian gas after a transit deal that allowed them to import supplies via Ukraine came to an end at the beginning of the year.

 "We have the Southern Gas Corridor," said Kaymakci. "We have 18 billion cubic meters of gas, coming mainly from Azerbaijan — and we can easily expand this, connecting it to Mediterranean gas. Our role is there, our potential is there."

However, high-level talks over energy trade between Turkey and the EU were suspended in 2019, with the bloc's leaders saying no meetings would be held "for the time being" over a dispute between Ankara and member country Cyprus over gas drilling rights in the Mediterranean.

According to a European Council statement, Turkish companies were looking to extract fossil fuels "within Cypriot territorial waters." Cyprus and Greece also have hopes of exploiting the lucrative natural resources, but have faced opposition from Turkey.

"Despite this potential, EU-Turkey energy dialogue is blocked because of decisions taken in 2019. We see this as a lose-lose situation," said Kaymakci. "Turkey is one of the three or four main energy arteries — whether to use it or not is up to the EU."

According to him, only Cyprus now remains opposed to restarting dialogue on the issue. "They may not need much energy in the sunny Mediterranean," the ambassador said, "but most of the member states say they need more energy, more diversification. So it's only going to continue."

 Courtesy: www.politico.eu


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