ISTANBUL - Turkish Energy & Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler said, ''Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project is progressing rapidly and it has reached a good stage.''
Guler left today for Britain to attend a conference on ''Caspian Sea Resources''.
Speaking to reporters prior to his departure, Guler said, ''Turkey's energy policy and resources of Caspian basin will be discussed at the conference.''
Recalling that ''the region is very rich in natural gas and oil,'' Guler said, ''Turkey is working actively in those areas''. ''Our government speeded up and extended these activities'' he said.
Guler said, ''One of the important projects in the region is Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project. This project will be completed soon'', adding that oil will be pumped through the pipeline in May, 2005, at the latest.
Noting, ''another important project is Shah Sea project,'' Guler said, ''natural gas coming from this basin will be pumped first to eastern city of Erzurum via Baku-Tbilisi pipeline and then to Europe.''
Guler said, ''an agreement was signed with Greece and bids for the construction of the pipeline will be called in November 2004.''
Guler will return to Turkey on September 18th.
(GC-ULG) 16.09.2004