Türkiye’s diversified natural gas supply network, spanning more than 10 countries, provides the country with significant operational flexibility, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said.
“It also allows us to procure natural gas at competitive prices, as well as the opportunity to export surplus volumes,” Bayraktar told private broadcaster Ülke TV.
He said Türkiye does not import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Basra or via the Strait of Hormuz. “In this regard, Türkiye is safe,” he added.
Bayraktar said Türkiye has sharply expanded its LNG terminal capacity, from 30 million cubic metres in 2016 to 160 million cubic metres currently, with plans to increase this to 200 million cubic metres.
The country also aims to strengthen capacity by building a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) in Dörtyol and potentially in the Gulf of Antalya, he said.
Türkiye has also increased its underground gas storage capacity, with expansions at Silivri and the Tuz Gölü facilities expected to raise capacity to between 12 billion and 15 billion cubic metres.
Storage facilities are currently 71–72% full, Bayraktar said.
He added that around 10% of Türkiye’s oil and petroleum product imports come from the Gulf region.
“Ten percent is a volume we can manage and tolerate. There doesn’t seem to be any issue regarding supply security,” he said.