Critical signature between BOTAŞ and Turkmengaz! Turkmen gas in Turkey on March 1

Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz said in his statement , "In the field of energy, with the agreement signed between BOTAŞ and Türkmengaz, we plan to have Turkmen gas reach Turkey as of March 1, 2025."

"Türkiye IS STRENGTHENING ITS KEY ROLE IN ENERGY TRANSIT"

Rauf Mammadov, an energy expert at the Washington-based Middle East Institute, said gas supplies from Turkmenistan to Turkey are in line with the country's goal of diversifying its energy sources and becoming a central player in regional energy trade.

"This method strengthens Turkey's energy supply security, while at the same time offering a cost-competitive supply opportunity that is not dependent on Russian gas. Turkmen gas is an important alternative to meet Turkey's increasing energy needs," Mammadov said.

Emphasizing that this development is a critical step in the process of diversifying Turkey's import portfolio, Mammadov said, "This agreement not only strengthens Turkey's energy security, but also has strategic importance in terms of creating an alternative route for Turkmenistan's gas exports to the West, bypassing Russia. This situation also coincides with Europe's long-standing energy diversification policies."

Rauf Mammadov said that the agreement would strengthen Turkey's goal of becoming a regional energy center and would be an important step towards increasing economic cooperation in the Turkic world.

Mammadov, noting that Turkey plays a critical bridge role between the energy-rich countries in the east and the European market in need of energy, said that the introduction of a new supply source will increase liquidity in the market and have a positive impact on price stability.

"While the Trans-Caspian Pipeline (TCP) project, which has not been able to make progress for years due to diplomatic and logistical obstacles, remains uncertain, Turkey has made a proactive move by turning Iran into a transit country and securing the uninterrupted flow of Turkmen gas," Mammadov said.

"THE AGREEMENT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR TURKEY'S ENERGY SUPPLY SECURITY"

Caspian Barrel Petroleum Research Center President İlham Şaban also stated that the fact that Turkmen gas will be transferred through the existing pipeline without any infrastructure costs offers a significant advantage, and said, "This development not only strengthens Turkey's energy supply security, but also stands out as an important turning point showing the strategic steps taken by Turkey in the global energy crisis."

Şaban said that Turkey has activated an alternative supply source through the pipeline, albeit not directly, through a swap method, and that this step is of critical importance for the country's energy supply security.

Emphasizing that Turkey's efforts to diversify its supply sources have made significant contributions to regional energy security, Şaban noted that this move has also created a new supply alternative for Europe.

İlham Şaban said, "Turkey aims to collect gas from different countries in its own infrastructure and offer it to buyers in Europe. Turkey, which currently supplies natural gas from 4 countries via pipelines, can also import gas transported by sea through LNG terminals. This makes Turkey a strategic supply point for Europe."

Pointing out that the demand of energy consumers in Europe will be a determining factor, Şaban said, "If European countries want to buy this gas, Turkey has a strong infrastructure to provide it. Its strategic geographical location, advanced pipelines and energy infrastructure reinforce Turkey's position as a key actor in regional energy trade."