Haberturk newspaper reported that Turkey and Israel have been negotiating gas transportation via the pipeline along the Mediterranean Sea bottom.
Turkey hopes that by 2019 Israel will start exporting about 30 billion cub.m. of gas a year, of which 10 billion cub.m will say in Turkey and 20 billion will be exported to Europe in transit. Thus, Turkey will partially reduce its dependence on the Russian export, which makes about 50% of the country’s needs in gas.
Price of Israel gas is $199 per 1000 cub.m., which is considered competitive in Turkey.
It is also planned to build 550-km-long pipeline along the Mediterranean Sea bottom (from Leviathan field), which will end in the Turkish port Mersin. Total cost of construction is estimated at $2.5-3 billion.
The agreement on the gas deliveries has not been signed yet. It is expected that it will be announced in spring after final settlement of a long-lasting dispute concerning the Liberty Fleet, Turkey’s attempt to break the blockade of Gaza, which was suspended by the Israel military several years ago.
In addition to Israel, Turkey has been also looking for additional sources of gas in other countries. In early December Turkey and Azerbaijan agreed to accelerate construction of the Trans Anadolu (TANAP) gas pipeline and put it into operation ahead of time. Launching of TANAP, which is a part of the Southern Gas Corridor, was initially planned for 2018. It will pass through Turkey from the Georgian border to the border with Bulgaria and Greece. In the future gas from Turkmenistan and Near East will also be exported via TANAP.
