JTW: Turkish Min: Delivering S. Cyprus gas via Egypt not feasible

Turkey's energy minister has deemed Saturday that delivering natural gas from Southern Cyprus via Egypt was not feasible. Leaders from Egypt, Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration gathered on Wednesday and talked about the possibility of delivering Southern Cyprus's natural gas via Egypt.

"It is said that they will bring the gas to Egypt as liquefied natural gas, LNG," said Taner Yildiz, Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Minister, during a breakfast organized for the economy journalists in Kayseri, a province in the Central Anatolia of Turkey. "When declining oil prices and high cost of LNG are taken into consideration, I do not find this decision feasible for them. This decision represents only a political obstinacy."

He said that delivering gas through Egypt would be a decision purposefully taken so as not to pass the natural gas via Turkey.

Taner Yildiz also talked about his recent visit to Turkmenistan on Friday.

"We signed a declaration on Friday," said Yildiz. "Turkmenistan's natural gas will pass through the Caspian either by being connected to Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline, TANAP, or via another line to Europe. An amount of 30 billion cubic meters may go to Europe via Turkey after 2020."

Turkey currently buys natural gas from six countries and oil from eleven countries.

Source: Journal of Turkish Weekly