27.01.2025 15:21
Due to the Russia-Ukraine war, the crisis in natural gas transmission to Europe remains unresolved. American and British media reported that Turkey has made an offer to sell $18 billion worth of natural gas to European countries during a time when energy needs are increasing.
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The US-based media organization Politico's European unit reported that Turkey has made a natural gas offer of 18 billion cubic meters.
European countries are facing a major crisis. The European unit of the US-based media organization POLITICO has brought Turkey's efforts regarding Russia's cut-off of natural gas flow to Europe via Ukraine on January 1, 2025, to the agenda. It reported that Turkey is working to assist the European Union (EU) in its transition after the cut-off of Russian gas.
"THE ONLY ROUTE IS TURKEY"
The news stated that Ankara's focus on new energy talks in Brussels to establish closer relations with the EU comes after EU member countries like Hungary and Slovakia sought alternatives to Russian gas following the expiration of the transit agreement that allowed them to import gas via Ukraine at the beginning of the year.
The continuation of the news reminded that Turkey is the only route for natural gas shipments, stating, "Turkey imports fuel from Russia through the TurkStream pipeline, which runs under the Black Sea, in addition to transferring Azerbaijani gas and exporting its local reserves. After the Kremlin's agreement with Ukraine expires on January 1, the underwater connection remains the only route for Moscow to send supplies to Europe. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has long been eager to make his country a regional gas 'hub' by integrating imports from its neighbors and increasing extraction in coastal waters."
BRITISH PRESS: SLOVAKIA'S PRIME MINISTER REQUESTED HELP FROM TURKEY
The British Daily Wrap stated, "The TurkStream gas pipeline is the last line bringing Russian resources to Europe," and reported that "Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico requested help from Turkey."
The British Daily Wrap also noted, "The possibility of the only source, TurkStream, being damaged in a potential attack has worried not only the Kremlin but also Budapest and Bratislava. In fact, Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico requested help from Turkey."
Last week, Slovakia's Prime Minister Fico met with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during his visit to Turkey. It was stated in the press release after the meeting that cooperation between the two countries would increase.
PRAVDA: WILL RUSSIAN GAS FLOW FROM TURKEY?
The Slovak newspaper Pravda headlined, "Will Russian gas flow to us from Turkey? Erdoğan and Hungary promised energy assistance, but experts say it won't be enough," stating, "When Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer) and several ministers visited Turkey on Monday (January 20), they discussed, among other things, the supply of natural gas to Slovakia. Slovakia can receive gas from Russia through the TurkStream gas pipeline, which many European countries currently rely on for energy."
HOW MUCH GAS DOES TURKSTREAM CARRY?
TurkStream (internationally known as TurkStream) is a natural gas pipeline that runs from Russia, traverses the Black Sea, bypasses Ukraine, enters Turkey's Marmara region, and connects to Bulgaria, thereby providing energy to all of Europe, especially Southern Europe. A total of 104.1 billion cubic meters of gas has been transported through the TurkStream Natural Gas Pipeline over five years, delivering Russian natural gas reserves to Turkey and Europe via Turkey.
When operating at full capacity, the two separate lines in the Black Sea will have an annual gas flow of 15.75 billion cubic meters. The first line, Blue Stream, was primarily established to supply Turkey, while the second line, TurkStream, provides energy to Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, and Hungary, with the aim of supplying even more.
Following Ukraine's move to cut off Russian gas, TurkStream has become the only operational pipeline transporting Russian natural gas to European countries. TurkStream is seen as critical in meeting the needs of EU member Hungary and non-EU member Serbia. Due to its infrastructure, capacity capabilities, and secure route, experts consider TurkStream to be one of the countries that the EU pays attention to and values. The EU Commission has indicated that in the new situation, Turkey's capacity can be utilized along the Balkan route.
700 KILOMETERS IN TURKISH WATERS
The marine section of the TurkStream pipeline consists of two parallel pipes extending 930 km in the Black Sea. Of this, 700 km is located within Turkish territorial waters.
The pipes, which descend to depths of up to 2,200 meters in places, start near the city of Anapa on the Russian coast and emerge on the Turkish coast in the village of Kıyıköy in Thrace. This pipeline system, constructed at depths exceeding two kilometers, is formed by the combination of thousands of pipes, each 12 meters long.
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