Erdogan’s Delusions of Energy Grandeur: Why Turkey Will Not Achieve “Energy Hub” Status - HIPPO READS / HUFFINGTON POST

Constantinos Papalucas

With Erdogan’s democratic countercoup enforcing temporary order and the recent rapprochement with Russia and Israel, Turkey’s expected next step is to focus on its long-standing aspiration: to become a regional energy hub in the Eastern Mediterranean (East-Med). The US-Turkey negotiations for the conditional use of Incirlik Airbase by NATO forces, ongoing since 2003, and the recent EU-Turkey deal on migration have both reaffirmed that Erdogan’s Turkey would not miss an opportunity to extract political rents from the West and monetize its geographic monopoly with morally ambiguous political demands. Erdogan’s interpretation of a Turkish energy hub, coupled with Western inertia, has even allowed Islamic State to “enjoy Turkish money for oil for a very, very long period of time.” [1] But is a Turkish energy hub a realistic target that would help the West diversify its energy imports, or is it just another Trojan horse amplifying Western dependency on countries that use energy as a weapon?

Would Turkey's emergence as 'gas bazaar' be beneficial? - ANADOLU AGENCY

While Turkey's role as transit country for gas to Europe is significant, experts differ over benefits of being a gas bazaarANKARA, 16.08.2016

By Dilara Zengin & Ebru Sengul

Turkey's strategic role as an energy transit country could in the long term evolve to a regional gas hub, but the benefits of this status as a 'Turkish gas bazaar' is questionable, experts told Anadolu Agency.

Brenda Shaffer, adjunct professor at the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies (CERES) at Georgetown University, said that Turkey at present is already a critical oil and natural gas transit state.

“The Bosphorus is one of the world’s most important oil transit lanes (and thus an important potential energy choke point). Oil from multiple sources, including Azerbaijan and Iraq, is exported via Turkey’s ports. Turkey receives natural gas today from four different projects spanning across Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran, and from 2018 it will receive gas from another project, with the establishment of Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP),” Shaffer explained.

Russia says in talks with Turkey on two lines of TurkStream gas pipeline - REUTERS

Fri Jul 29, 2016 4:52am EDT

Moscow and Ankara have been discussing the construction of two lines of the TurkStream natural gas pipeline from Russia to Turkey, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in a TV interview aired on Friday.

Capacity of one line is around 15.75 billion cubic meters of gas per year.

"Turkey will play a large role as a transit country to provide European consumers with gas," Novak told Russia's state Rossiya-24 TV channel.

Russia extends sympathy to potential energy partner Turkey - UPI

Vladimir Putin keeping close tabs on government stability in Turkey.
Photo courtesy of Russian Ministry of Defence

Energy company Gazprom had proposed a string of gas pipelines through Turkish territory.

By Daniel J. Graeber

MOSCOW, July 18 2016 (UPI) -- The Russian government views an attempt to undermine the government of its key energy trading partner Turkey as unacceptable, President Vladimir Putin said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed revenge late Sunday during mourning for the 290 people left dead after last week's failed coup attempt. At least 6,000 people, including more than a dozen of the country's top military generals, were arrested in connection with the putsch.

Putin said in a statement he was expecting to meet personally with the Turkish president to discuss bilateral affairs.

"He expressed words of sympathy to President Erdogan over the numerous deaths, both among civilians and law enforcement officers who stood against the plotters, and expressed his hope that constitutional order and stability will be restored in Turkey as soon as possible," a statement from the president's office read.

Turkey and Ukraine find common ground on gas - INTERFAX

Turkish President Erdogan, left, and Ukrainian President
Poroshenko at the summit in Ankara last week. (PA)

By Joshua Posaner and Staff reporter 14 March 2016

 Turkish President Erdogan, left, and Ukrainian President Poroshenko at the summit in Ankara last week. (PA) Turkish President Erdogan, left, and Ukrainian President Poroshenko at the summit in Ankara last week. (PA)

Turkey and Ukraine signalled a closer alliance on energy last week, but analysts say market realities are likely to restrict short-term cooperation when it comes to gas.

The leaders of the two countries took part in a bilateral summit in the Turkish capital late last week. One key suggestion from Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko was for Turkey to use his country’s gas storage facilities as a means of boosting national supply security.

"Poroshenko and [Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet] Davutoglu agreed to establish closer cooperation on issues relating to joint participation in developing energy infrastructure and international energy corridors," Ukraine’s presidential media service said following the talks.