Automotive Exports February 2023

Türkiye on its way to become energy hub
The natural gas deal with Bulgaria is a step
forward in Türkiye’s efforts to become an
energy hub, Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez
has said.
“With this agreement, natural gas could be
transmitted not only to Bulgaria but other
countries via Bulgaria,” Dönmez added.
On Jan. 3, Türkiye and Bulgaria signed an
agreement for the transmission of up to 1.5
billion cubic meters of natural gas a year.
The new deal covers a 13-year period.
Dönmez traveled to the Bulgarian capital
Sofia to attend the signing ceremony.
The gas deal was inked between the two
countries by the general managers of
the Turkish Petroleum Pipeline Company
(BOTAŞ) and Bulgargaz.
“The deal means almost 20 billion cubic
meters of gas trade in 13 years. We will also
be able to provide service to all European
countries via Bulgaria,” Dönmez said.
The minister recalled that the natural gas
agreement was signed only three weeks
after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met
his Bulgarian counterpart, Rumen Radev, in
Istanbul.
Türkiye has been working over the past
years to position itself as an energy hub,
Dönmez said.
“We have plans to establish a natural gas
trade center. We have largely completed
our physical infrastructure for this initiative.
The deal [with Bulgaria] means that we are
reaping the first fruits of these efforts.”
Dönmez reminded the energy cooperation
between Türkiye and Bulgaria has a long
history. “Türkiye received the first natural
gas via Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria. This
pipeline has been offline over the past two
years. Now the direction of gas flow will
reverse,” the minister said.
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