Turkish minister: Silivri gas storage facility to become largest in Europe

Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez has said that the Silivri underground natural gas storage capacity expansion project in the country's northwest will make this facility the largest in Europe.

He visited the territory of the Silivri underground storage facility, the operator of which is the BOTAS state company, Anadolu reports.

Donmez stressed the importance of the project to expand the capabilities of the gas storage facility from the point of view of Türkiye's energy security.

"Currently, Silivri can accumulate 3.2 billion cubic metres, but soon this figure will reach 4.6 billion cubic metres. We will also increase the gas supply capacity from 28 million cubic metres to 75 million cubic metres per day," Donmez said.

The minister stressed that the project is planned to be completed by late 2022.

According to Donmez, work on expanding the storage capacity is also underway in the underground gas storage facility Tuz Golu.

"Currently, the volume of this storage is 1.2 billion cubic metres. In 1.5-2 years, the volume will reach 5.4 billion cubic metres," Donmez said.

The minister recalled that both facilities are currently being operated.

"The Tuz Golu storage is fully filled, and Silivri is 82 per cent full. The rest of the storage will be filled by the end of September. Before the beginning of winter, all storage facilities will be full of gas," he said.