ANKARA - Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler said on Thursday that Turkey would review agreement on natural gas purchased from Iran since that natural gas was not cheap.
Speaking in the regular meeting of Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO), Guler said that Turkey was like an energy bridge and terminal due to its geopolitical situation and noted that they would take advantage of that situation.
Guler said that Turkey had a bright future in respect of the structure of energy and gave information about Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Shah Deniz projects.
Pointing out that ongoing talks with Russia on natural gas had reached a certain stage, Guler noted that they wanted to diversify energy.
Guler stated that talks on electricity which was no more purchased from Bulgaria continued. Noting that construction of two dams and a motorway were foreseen in return for electricity purchase from Bulgaria, Guler said that none of those projects were fulfilled.
Either Turkish contractors would construct dams and motorway or possible contracting profit would be decreased from the price of electricity, Guler said. Guler noted that they would either reduce electricity prices or make a new agreement.
Relations with Bulgaria were not deteriorated as electricity purchase was stopped, Guler stated.
Guler pointed out that talks on sale of electricity to Iraq continued. Stating that they did not exclude the possibility of establishment of nuclear power plant in Turkey, Guler said that however, establishment of those power plants was not an emergency.
Noting that oil exploration in Black Sea continued, Guler said that United Nations (U.N.) was a serious organization and it would not continue those explorations unless there was oil in Black Sea.
(BRC-AY) 23.10.2003