ISTANBUL - Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler said on Tuesday that natural gas sources of European Union (EU) would be enriched via Turkey.
Guler, who attended meetings in Vienna and Rome, returned to Turkey.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Guler told reporters that Turkey had become a focal point in energy due to its recent efforts and geopolitical location.
Guler said that they stressed importance of hydrogen energy during the 10th general assembly meetings of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and recalled that Hydrogen Energy Technology Center would be established in Istanbul.
Pointing out that important efforts were being exerted on hydrogen energy in the United States, EU and Japan, Guler said, ''the new era seems to be era of hydrogen. People talk about hydrogen economy. We continue our work on current energy resources in Turkey but at the same time, we start a competition with other modern countries in hydrogen energy. We are even a pioneer in this issue.''
Guler stated that they would work with few special experts in the world in this center and stressed that Turkey would gain advantages of those initiatives.
Recalling that he attended the Conference on Europe-Mediterranean Cooperation in the Energy Sector in Rome, Guler said that they took up ensuring security of energy supply.
Guler noted that he explained Turkey's energy policy and vision in the meeting.
Turkey had become a focal point in energy due to its recent efforts and geopolitical location, Guler emphasized.
Guler said that he held bilateral meetings with ministers of Bulgaria, Egypt, Syria, Italy, Greece and Austria.
Noting that there were two developments in the meeting which pleased Turkey, Guler said, ''one of them is confirmation of Turkey's strategic location and transit role in transfer of natural gas of Caucasus and Caspian basin to Europe. EU's natural gas sources will be enriched via Turkey. They used to buy natural gas from Algeria, Norway and Russia. They attach a special importance to natural gas to come via Turkey. They attach great importance to Turkey for richness of sources and security of energy.''
Guler added, ''at the same time, we discussed transfer of Syrian and Iraq natural gas to pass through Turkey. Turkey will be both a bridge of energy and an energy terminal. Therefore, there were very serious talks and evaluations about strategic role of Turkey.''
Stating that Turkey also played an important role in international electricity network, Guler said that North African countries wanted to be interconnected to Europe via Turkey.
Guler stated that he took up energy import in his meeting with his Bulgarian counterpart and the issue would come onto agenda in the meeting of energy ministers to be held in Greece in the following week.
Bulgaria offered three separate alternatives, Guler pointed out.
Guler said, ''one of them is implementation of current contract. Promise had been given for construction of a motorway and two dams in this contract. The second is reduction of money to be earned by our contractors from possible projects they will undertake from electricity. The last is review of the issue in case an agreement can't be reached on these two articles. They welcomed this.''
Natural gas agreement signed with Russia was the focal point in meetings he attended in Vienna and Rome, Guler added.
(BRC-AY) 02.12.2003