Erdogan: Gas deal with Azerbaijan not to affect imports from Russia
The agreement on the transit of gas to Europe signed
Monday by Turkey and Azerbaijan will not affect the volume of gas
Turkey imports from Russia, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan has said.
"The gas we buy from Azerbaijan and our future imports are meeting an insignificant part of Turkey’s demand, and Russian fuel accounts for most [of the required gas]," Erdogan told a press conference with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on Tuesday.
"The bulk of gas we buy from Russia will not decrease, and the Shahdaniz project [the project on developing Azerbaijan’s largest gas field in the Caspian Sea] will have no impact on Blue Stream [a gas pipeline under the Black Sea linking Russia and Turkey]."
Putin, for his part, said Turkey and Azerbaijan reserve the right to diversify sources of energy. "Turkey’s energy needs are growing, and Russia will continue meeting them in the future."
Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said after the signing of the gas deal that Azerbaijan’s gas "is a very important source in meeting the needs of Turkey and European countries in the coming period in terms of energy security". According to him, Turkey will buy 6 billion cubic meters of gas a year from Azerbaijan in 2017-2019, during the second phase of production at Shahdaniz. Yildiz added that prices for Azerbaijani gas will be more reasonable compared to Russian gas.
Energy-rich Azerbaijan is seen as a key potential supplier for the Western-backed Nabucco pipeline, which is competing with Russia's South Stream project to meet Europe’s gas needs.*
"The gas we buy from Azerbaijan and our future imports are meeting an insignificant part of Turkey’s demand, and Russian fuel accounts for most [of the required gas]," Erdogan told a press conference with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on Tuesday.
"The bulk of gas we buy from Russia will not decrease, and the Shahdaniz project [the project on developing Azerbaijan’s largest gas field in the Caspian Sea] will have no impact on Blue Stream [a gas pipeline under the Black Sea linking Russia and Turkey]."
Putin, for his part, said Turkey and Azerbaijan reserve the right to diversify sources of energy. "Turkey’s energy needs are growing, and Russia will continue meeting them in the future."
Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said after the signing of the gas deal that Azerbaijan’s gas "is a very important source in meeting the needs of Turkey and European countries in the coming period in terms of energy security". According to him, Turkey will buy 6 billion cubic meters of gas a year from Azerbaijan in 2017-2019, during the second phase of production at Shahdaniz. Yildiz added that prices for Azerbaijani gas will be more reasonable compared to Russian gas.
Energy-rich Azerbaijan is seen as a key potential supplier for the Western-backed Nabucco pipeline, which is competing with Russia's South Stream project to meet Europe’s gas needs.*
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