Türkiye working on three options for Turkmen gas supply

Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay has said that three options for supplying Turkmen natural gas to Türkiye are being worked out, and preparatory work is under completion.

Oktay made a statement to the press at the residence of the Turkish embassy in Ashgabat, talking about his official meetings and agreements reached in Turkmenistan, according to Anadolu Agency.

Noting that relations between Turkmenistan and Türkiye have a 30-year history, Oktay said that Türkiye is the first country which recognised Turkmenistan’s independence and opened an embassy there.

“We have a common ancient history that goes back to the past,” the vice president added.

He said there was a rapid development of relations between the Turkic world and Türkiye, adding Ankara sees that relations in the political, economic and many other spheres to develop more systematically within the Organisation of Turkic States.

The vice-president noted that for this purpose, the leaders of the Turkic states, especially the Turkish president, are doing their best.

“Of course, this is a project that will contribute to regional peace and the economic development of the region,” Oktay said.

While considering the Türkiye-Turkmenistan relations, Oktay said that Türkiye would like to see fraternal Turkmenistan, which is joining the Organisation of Turkic States as an observer member, as a permanent member at the next meeting to be held in Uzbekistan.

Noting that a 72-point roadmap has been drawn up, Oktay said that Turkic states intend to intensify trade relations, which currently stand at $2 billion up to $3 billion till late 2022, and then up to $5 billion and up to $10 billion in the future.

Oktay unveiled the projects which will expand opportunities in the energy, transport, agriculture, healthcare, and construction sectors.

According to him, there are several alternatives for supplying Turkmen natural gas to Türkiye and Ankara is working on three alternatives, namely, using the TANAP (Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline) line across the Caspian Sea, a SWAP agreement, or the pipeline running underneath the sea.

“I am happy to say that the entire process is under completion,” the vice-president said.

Oktay said that President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedow is rendering great support to quickly achieve the results.

Emphasising that the Northern Corridor has become risky due to the crisis between Russia and Ukraine and that this makes the Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian International Transport Route) much more attractive, Oktay said that Türkiye would like to intensify the Middle Corridor in many spheres using rail and air logistics infrastructure through the Caspian Sea.

“We saw mutual determination and sincere cooperation in this issue too,” he said.

The Turkish vice president added that the sides will intensify a joint working group to simplify customs procedures and eliminate bureaucratic obstacles in the field of trade and investments.

“We see both sides’ desire for cooperation. We will sign the corresponding documents very soon,” Oktay said.