Turkey, Turkmenistan to achieve annual gas trade volume of 15B cubic meters over next 20 years
(MENAFN) On Wednesday, Türkiye and Turkmenistan announced their ambitious goal of achieving an annual gas trade volume of 15 billion cubic meters (bcm) over the next 20 years, totaling 300 bcm. This objective was outlined by the Turkish energy and Natural Resources Ministry, which highlighted the need for infrastructure improvements to reach this target. Initially, the two countries plan to start with a modest volume of 2 bcm through a swap method, leveraging existing infrastructure as they work towards the larger goal.
The statement, released following Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar’s recent two-day visit to Turkmenistan, emphasized the necessity of a pipeline to facilitate the increased gas trade. Bayraktar met with top energy officials during his visit and discussed various strategies for transporting Turkmenistan’s gas to Türkiye and subsequently to Europe. One of the key proposals includes constructing a pipeline across the Caspian Sea to handle a larger volume of natural gas and secure a long-term agreement for transportation to Western markets, Türkiye, and Europe.
Bayraktar also noted other areas of collaboration between the two countries, including Turkmenistan's investment plans for natural gas storage. He highlighted Türkiye's current capacity to store approximately 6 bcm of natural gas, with a goal to expand this to 12 bcm by 2028. The Turkish Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS) is recognized for its significant expertise and infrastructure in this area, which will support the planned increase in storage capacity.
In a related development, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently stated that the transfer of Turkmenistan's gas to Türkiye and Europe through the expanded Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP) is imminent. Earlier this year, Bayraktar and Azerbaijan's economy minister signed a comprehensive agreement to expand capacity for several natural gas pipelines. This deal is expected to facilitate additional gas volumes from Azerbaijan and the Caspian region to Türkiye and Europe by 2030, though specific volumes are still to be determined.
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