Natural Gas
Natural gas is a colorless and odorless gas which is lighter than air. Found in subterranean settings, and typically in close proximity to petroleum, it is extracted in the same way as petroleum, and later transmitted via large pipelines.
Out of the natural gas reserves, 73 trillion cubic meters (41%) are in Middle Eastern Countries, 59 trillion cubic meters (33%) in Russia and CIS, and 28 trillion cubic meters (16%) in Africa/Asia Pacific countries.
Our domestic potential in natural gas is 21,86 billion m³. By the end of 2008, natural gas consumption is expected to increase by 5,5% compared to the previous year, reaching 33,6 million TEP. Our installed power in natural gas is 13.337 MW, which corresponds to 31,8% of our total installed power.
According to studies on natural gas supply-demand balance, there is no problem until 2011 to meet the annual gas demand. But during winter months, when demand is high, disruptions in source or route countries may create seasonal imbalances of supply and demand. In this context, commissioning in 2007 of Silivri natural gas depot, which has a capacity of 1,6 billion m³, has been very beneficial for ensuring availability of seasonal supply. In coming days, measures will be taken for increasing the capacity of existing natural gas depots on the one hand, and for building additional underground depots, particularly in the Salt Lake basin.
The Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum (BTE) Natural Gas Pipeline (Shah Sea Project), which aims at carrying Caspian gas resources to our country and European markets, has been commissioned. Gas transmission started on November 26, 2006, and first production of the Shah Sea Project started on December 15, 2006. Also the process of creating trans-Caspian petroleum and gas pipelines, in the context of Turkmen and Kazak resources, is being planned in a way that is integrated with other projects.
In 2007, Greece connection of the South European Gas Ring (Turkey-Greece-Italy Pipeline), which aims at transmitting Caspian and Middle Eastern gas resources to EU markets, was completed an commissioned. Italian connection is due for completion in 2012.
With an annual capacity of 12 billion m³, this project will have a significant share in Greek and Italian gas markets, and constitutes the first step in the integration of Turkish gas system with the EU.
Work is still in progress in relation to the NABUCCO Project which, within the scope of activities to bring natural gas to Europe, will connect Turkey to Austria via Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary, and will carry Caspian and Middle Eastern gas resources to the Central European Natural Gas Distribution Center. Listed as one of the top-priority projects in EU official documents, the aim of the Nabucco project is to carry, in its first stage, 25 to 30 billion m³ of gas annually over a line of 3.400 km. This figure is expected to increase in the years to come.
Work is in progress in relation to the Arabic Natural Gas Pipeline Project for transmitting Egyptian natural gas resources to our country.
On top of the foregoing, our country will;
- continue to attach importance and priority to domestic petroleum and natural gas prospection and production activities.
- for meeting the increasing European demand for natural gas, attach strategic importance to efforts for ensuring that projects for transferring resources in our region to Europe pass through our country.
We will persevere on our policy of making our country a natural gas trade hub in the medium- and long run.
Source: Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources
