Turkey holds its breath for shale gas and syngas
ANKARA - Anatolia News Agency
Synthetic gas production started two months ago in the Aegean city Kütahya and draws hopes in Turkey that it can partially replace natural gas need. AA photo
New findings are spurring hopes in Turkey’s search for new energy resources, following the energy minister’s recent announcement that indications of possible shale gas resources had been found in the Central Anatolian provinces of Ankara, Konya and Kırşehir.Both the rising domestic gas consumption forcing import dependency and Turkey’s geographic location linking it as a supplier to international markets suggest that the discovery of major reserves could be a great relief for the Turkish economy.
Turkey has been anticipating the normalization of world energy markets, which have recently seen significant price divergences. However, in the meantime it is also seeking to benefit from the reserve potentials in its southeastern, eastern and western regions, Energy Minister Taner Yıldız said during Turkey’s International Shale Oil and Gas Conference held in Ankara.
Shell has been drilling around the southeastern city of Diyarbakir for shale gas, but Turkey has also accelerated its operations in Central Anatolia.
Yıldız said recently that shale gas potential had been indicated in Ankara, Konya and Kırşehir as a result of seismic drillings conducted by the Turkish Petroleum Company (TPAO) and the Mineral Research and Exploration Institute (MTA).He added that they did not yet have any concrete assumptions about how much of Turkey’s energy needs would be satisfied by these indications.
Synthetic gas
More good energy news came from the Aegean region yesterday, with officials announcing that another substantial energy source would be synthetic gas by the gasification of lignite coal, as they eye the obtainment of 1-1.5 billion cubic meters per year, equal to almost one ninth of Turkey’s entire natural gas needs.
Synthetic gas production, started two months ago in the Tavşanlı district of the Aegean city of Kütahya, is anticipated to be conducted in a new facility to be established in another Aegean city, Manisa. There are coal basins worth a total of 13 billion tons in Turkey.
Meanwhile, Turkish Merty Energy have announced that it has discovered natural gas reserves in Istanbul’s northern district of Silivri, and that the company has started extensive testing to determine the reserve potential of the well.
Energy Minister Yıldız confirmed the discovery, but advised waiting for the examinations to be completed before forming a precise opinion about the importance of the well for Turkey.
Turkey’s spendings on energy exploration has reached 13-time more in 10 years, he added.
Nuke plant race warms
ANKARA - Anatolia News Agency
“We were about the finalize the decision process, but two countries recently stepped up their attempts in the competition,” Yıldız said, responding to questions.
Turkey’s second nuclear power plant, which will cost around $25 billion, is slated to be built in the northern province of Sinop. Japan, South Korea, China and Canada are the short-listed contenders for the plant. France also stepped into the ring last month after French Trade Minister expressed her country’s desire.
Yıldız said that some countries were leading the contenders, but some were lagging behind, adding that he hoped Turkey would be the real “winner” in the end.
