For the first time Turkey is taking part in Turkmen-Azeri gas transfer talks. Ankara is trying to involve its state-owned energy company, TPAO, in the development of Turkmenistan’s super-giant Galkynysh field. TPAO had a 16 bcm/y sales and purchase agreement with Turkmenistan’s state-owned gas company Turkmengaz since 1997, but this was never implemented due to the lack of a direct transport link between the two states. Mr Yildiz stated that Turkey is ready “to take an active part in the implementation of major energy projects to modernize the infrastructure of the domestic [Turkmen] energy sector, promoted by our country, and in the creation of the advanced multivariate system of Turkmen energy supply to world markets”.
He was offering to assist Turkmenistan with the financing and construction of the internal 30 bcm/y capacity East-West pipeline that would bring the Amu Darya fields’ vast resources to the country’s major gas hub located in the West of the country. This would allow exports via the 300km-long TCGP to Azerbaijan’s Sangachal terminal near Baku. MEES understands that in view of Nabucco’s revision as a European based project, Turkey is trying to secure Turkmen gas for its domestic market via TANAP. TANAP has effectively replaced the Anatolian component of the original Nabucco project and has an initial throughput capacity of 16-31 bcm/y aimed at servicing Turkey’s Caspian imports and simultaneously acting as a transit route to EU markets. Turkish state-owned Botas, holding 20%, is the only partner of Azerbaijan’s Socar at present and they and their Shah Deniz partners are already eyeing long-term capacity expansion to 60 bcm/y. (CONTINUED - 377 WORDS)
