TEMELLI - Baymina Ankara Natural Gas Combit Circle constructed by Belgian Tractebelsa company and Turkish Mimag company's built-operate model was opened in Temelli town of Turkish capital Ankara with a ceremony on Tuesday.
Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler, Belgian Crown Prince Philippe and Belgian Minister of Economy, Energy, Foreign Trade and Science Policy Fientje Moerman attended the ceremony.
Delivering a speech, Guler said that Turkey would need new energy investment amounting to 3 billion U.S. dollars every year as of 2007 and invited foreign investors to Turkey.
Guler said that they attached great importance to foreign investments and noted that they formed necessary legal infrastructure for attracting more foreign investment.
Stressing that necessary legal arrangements were also completed at a great extent in line with adjustment to the European Union (EU), he said that electricity power which was currently 35 thousand megawatt in Turkey would reach 37 thousand 500 megawatt at the end of 2004.
Guler said that Turkish government attached great importance to usage of domestic resources and stated that tender of this facility was made earlier.
Moerman said that they wanted to continue such projects improving cooperation between the two countries and noted that they hoped Belgian companies to support liberalization and privatization process in Turkey.
Stating that they came to Turkey with a delegation including 130 businessmen, Moerman said that they held many meetings with Turkish business circles in Istanbul.
Belgian-based Tractebelsa company has 95 percent and Turkish Mimag company has 5 percent of Baymina Energy Inc..
Natural Gas Combit Circle which will consume 1 billion cubic meters of natural gas and which will produce 6.3 billion kilowatt-hour of electricity, cost 500 million U.S. dollars.
(EÖ-AÖ) 04.05.2004