ANKARA — Turkey is developing a plan to emerge as a critical conduit of energy to Europe.
Turkish officials said their country's location as the gateway for crude
oil and natural gas from Russia and Central Asia would make Ankara a vital
player for the European Union, Middle East Newsline reported.
They said that given Turkey's role as an
energy hub the EU would be unable to reject Ankara's application for
membership.
Energy Minister Hilmi Guler said Turkey already comprises an important
energy corridor and its role would become critical for the EU. Guler said
that in July 2005 Turkey would receive oil from Georgia and become a transit
point for the Baku-Ceyhan gas pipeline.
By 2020, officials said, Turkey would be capable of selling 35 billion
cubic meters of gas annually to Europe. They said this could increase to 100
billion cubic meters per year.
