Is energy the cause of asymmetric attacks on Turkey? - YENI ŞAFAK

29 December 2016
Erdal Tanas Karagöl

The 21st century is the century of natural gas. Many countries with natural gas resources are located in the north, east and south of Turkey. Therefore, Turkey is a country that has strategic significance in energy.

Turkey stands out in the energy field in its region, as it is a bridge between hydrocarbon reserves in the Middle East, the Caspian region and the Mediterranean, and European countries, the largest consuming countries, and as it ensures its own energy supply security.

Turkey's strategic position among countries that have natural gas resources and that consume natural gas offers significant advantages in terms of being both a corridor and a trade center in energy. For the first time, Turkey is at the point of turning the cost it has shouldered in this region for years into an advantage.

Israel-Turkish pipeline hinges on Cyprus issue solution - NEW EUROPE

OCTOBER 28, 2016 00:04 
Kostis Geropoulos

Gazprom strives to secure its market in Turkey, fighting against additional Azeri, Iranian, Kurdish or East Mediterranean gas.

ATHENS – The rapprochement between Tel Aviv and Ankara will give fresh impetus to a pipeline from Israel to Turkey, experts told New Europe in Athens on October 25.

During a meeting of Israel’s Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz and his Turkish counterpart Berat Albaryrak at the World Energy Council in Istanbul on October 13, Tel Aviv and Ankara agreed to examine the feasibility of the pipeline.

Energy Minister Albayrak suggests East Mediterranean gas may serve as a positive alternative - DAILY SABAH / ANADOLU AGENCY

27.10.2016

Turkey considers East Mediterrinean natural gas as a positive alternative tool to bring peace to its region and to ensure energy supply security, the country's Energy Minister Albayrak says

Recalling that East Mediterrinean natural gas has been on Turkey's agenda for a long while, Albayrak said they discussed this issue with the Israeli minister at the 23rd World Energy Congress. Turkey and Israel have agreed to establish a mutual energy dialogue, further strengthening ties between the countries following a six-year pause in relations, Israeli Energy and Water Resources Minister Yuval Steinitz said during the congress.

Turkey-Russia ties and the impact on Cyprus - IN CYPRUS / CYPRUS WEEKLY

October 16, 2016
Charles Ellinas

The 23rd World Energy Congress was held in Istanbul between October 9 and 13. There was heavy participation from world political and industry leaders, attracting more than 10,000 top world experts in the field of energy.

Meetings around the Congress resulted in progress on a number of areas of direct or indirect importance to Cyprus. These included TurkStream, gas price discounts by Russia to Turkey and political and defence agreements between Russia and Turkey. I address these in this article and, where appropriate, draw on their impact on Cyprus.

SGC most important project for BP - TREND NEWS AGENCY

13 October 2016 19:06 (UTC+04:00)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 13

By Orkhan Quluzade – Trend:

The Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) is the most important project for BP, Tufan Erginbilgic, BP’s downstream chief executive, told reporters Oct. 13 on the sidelines of the 23rd World Energy Congress in Istanbul.

Erginbilgic said the project worth $45 billion is important both for BP and the energy market.

“The Southern Gas Corridor project has already been implemented by 83 percent,” he noted, adding that the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline’s (TANAP) construction is being carried out in line with the schedule.

He reminded that BP has a 20-percent share in the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).

EU energy security tops discussions at World Congress in Istanbul - AZER NEWS

11 October 2016 15:32

By Nigar Abbasova

Relations of Turkey and Azerbaijan, which are determined by historical, cultural, ethnic and religious connections, are gaining even more momentum due to mutually beneficial and successful cooperation of the two countries in the energy sector.

The 23rd World Energy Congress, grandiose event of colossal importance that brought together more than 10,000 top world leaders in the field of energy, became an additional evidence of the fact that successful cooperation between the countries may become a guarantee of energy security in a whole Europe.

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, speaking at the congress said that energy projects, jointly implemented by Azerbaijan and Turkey are of great significance for the world, mentioning that the role of the two countries in the issue of energy security can not be overestimated. The president emphasized that today the Southern Gas Corridor is among the largest energy projects all over the world.

Turkey will be an energy hub, Putin says - UPI

European partners view Turkey as a bridge to gas reserves in Azerbaijan.

By Daniel J. Graeber | Oct. 11, 2016 at 6:03 AM

ISTANBUL, Turkey, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- Turkey will become a major energy hub for the European market with assistance from the Russian government, President Vladimir Putin said.

Putin met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a special session of the 23rd World Energy Congress. Alongside geopolitical issues related to the civil war in Syria, where both sides have varying allegiances, the two leaders discussed new life for the Turkish Stream pipeline, a revision to a much larger project meant to carry Russian natural gas to Europe.

Turkey's geographic position makes it desirable as a bridge to transport energy resources from Central Asian suppliers to the European market.

Trafigura, Vitol Said Among Bidders for OMV Turkey Fuel Unit - BLOOMBERG

Dinesh Nair, Ercan Ersoy
October 10, 2016 — 11:21 AM EDTUpdated on October 11, 2016 — 4:23 AM EDT

• Opet, Socar and private equity firms also said to bid
• Turkey’s Petrol Ofisi sale could fetch about $1.2 billion

OMV AG, central Europe’s biggest oil and gas company, has got initial bids from Vitol SA and Trafigura Group Pte for its Turkish fuel retailer OMV Petrol Ofisi AS, people with knowledge of the matter said.

Opet Petrolculuk AS, the State Oil Co. of the Azerbaijan Republic and private equity firms are also among the companies that made offers, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the process isn’t public. BP Plc and Saudi Arabian Oil Co., known as Aramco, are also weighing bids, the people said.

Russia, Turkey sign gas pipeline deal, talk Syria - DW

10.10.2016, Chase Winter

Turkey and Russia have signed a deal to build a major gas pipeline under the Black Sea. A gradual rapproachment since a falling out last year shows the two can pursue a pragmatic relationship.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday took steps to reconcile differences following a severe deterioration of relations between the two countries earlier this year.

Putin arrived in Istanbul for the World Energy Congress, his first visit to the country since Turkey downed a Russian jet along the Syrian border last November, triggering a crisis. Turkey apologized for the jet incident in June, leading to a gradual improvement in relations and Moscow clawing back damaging sanctions on the Turkish economy.

Russia, Turkey resume gas price talks: Russian energy minister - REUTERS

A worker checks the valve gears in a natural gas control centre of
Turkey's Petroleum and Pipeline Corporation, 35 km (22 miles)
west of Ankara, January 5, 2009. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Sun Oct 9, 2016 | 10:38am EDTReporting by Maria Kiselyova; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky

Moscow and Ankara have resumed talks on the price of Russian gas for Ankara, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in an interview with Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper.

A gas price dispute between Turkish pipeline operator Botas and Russia's state gas producer Gazprom led to Botas launching international arbitration proceedings against Gazprom in October 2015.

The row had led to talks on their joint Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline project to be suspended earlier that year.

In November 2015, most contact between Russia and Turkey were halted after the downing of a Russian fighter jet by Turkish military, although since then Moscow and Ankara have made significant progress towards restoring relations.