Guler: Turkey Serves As Bridge In Transportation Of Energy From East To West

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish Energy & Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler said that Europe was the biggest energy consumer in the world while Turkey was acting as a bridge of energy transportation from the East to the West.
     Taking the floor at a seminar titled, ''the role of private sector in infrastructure projects in Central Asia'' held within the scope of the 38th annual meeting of Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Istanbul, Guler indicated that energy was the most important factor of economic and social development.
     Guler noted that Caspian region and Central Asia countries were very important in terms of oil and natural gas, stressing that Turkey was serving as a bridge in transportation of energy from the East to the West.
     Noting that Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project was expected to be completed in a few months, Guler stressed that Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline project was expected to finish in the last quarter of 2006.
     Guler said that Turkey was carrying out oil exploration studies, stating that Turkey took part in four important projects in Azerbaijan.
     Replying to a question, Guler said that Turkey had very close ties with Central Asian countries, adding that while Turkey was working hard to be a full member of the European Union, it also wanted to join projects with Asian countries.
     (E֭MS)
2005-05-06