Minister confident on natural gas imports

KUWAIT - Anatolia News Agency

Energy Minister Taner Yıldız talks to a reporter on the sidelines of an international energy forum in Kuwait. Iran provides about half of Turkey’s oil need, Yıldız says.

Turkey’s natural gas projects will probably not fall within the scope of possible planned international sanctions against Iran, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yıldız said yesterday at an energy forum held in Kuwait.

Turkey imports about half of its crude oil from Iran as it is a bordering country, Yıldız said at the 13th International Energy Forum, adding that Turkey is the sole country involved in the possible sanctions that has a border with Iran.
 
“In this sense, Turkey is in a different position compared with other countries. Iran’s crude oil takes up
a 1 or 2 percent share in the total oil imports of Britain and France. Our position is different from theirs,”
he said, adding that while diversification in energy supplies is a reasonable policy for the future, this is
where Turkey stands in reality. Turkey continues to import crude oil from Iran, he said, noting that the
country imports crude oil from 11 countries including Iran and imports natural gas from 5 countries.

Energy and oil ministers of 66 states participate in the forum, which brings together energy producers,
consumers and transporters, making it one of the largest events of its kind. Yıldız held a bilateral discussion at the forum with European Commissioner for energy Guenther Oeittinger on developments regarding the Shah Deniz II consortium, the natural gas supply safety of European Union member states, and oil and natural gas projects. Tripartite or quadripartite meetings may be held in Vienna or Stuttgart on these issues in the future, Yıldız said.