Erdogan humiliates EU as Turkey considers plot to cut Putin’s gas | Science | News

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Erdogan calls Russian invasion of Ukraine ‘unacceptable’

Turkish Deputy Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar stressed that Turkey could sever ties with Putin by obtaining energy from local sources and guaranteeing a stable supply. The country has seen its reliance on Russia skyrocket in the past year, despite Turkey’s share of Russian gas imports falling to 33% in 2019 and 2020 from more than 60% in 2005. Turkey had succeeded in cutting off Putin’s gas thanks to a new natural gas pipeline. from Azerbaijan.

It also imported liquefied natural gas from other suppliers and invested in gas storage and renewable technologies.

But in 2021, the country rebounded and around 40% of Ankara’s natural gas came from Russia.

Today, Turkey is committed to reducing this dependence once again.

Mr Bayraktar said a “20-25% share of imports from a single country is more reasonable”.

The country wants to start developing its own natural gas following discoveries in the Black Sea.

Turkish Deputy Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar stressed that Turkey could sever ties with Putin by obtaining energy from local sources and guaranteeing a stable supply.

The country has seen its reliance on Russia skyrocket in the past year, despite Turkey’s share of Russian gas imports falling to 33% in 2019 and 2020 from more than 60% in 2005.

Turkey had succeeded in cutting off Putin’s gas thanks to a new gas pipeline from Azerbaijan.

Erdogan seems to present a plan to cut off Russian gas (Image: Getty)

Putin

Turkey got 40% of its gas from Russia last year (Image: Getty)

These supplies are expected to enter service in 2023 and plateau over the 2025-26 period.

And instead of importing gas from Russia, Turkey might be able to exploit its geographical position as an energy transit country.

Turkish energy and foreign ministers are expected to discuss gas cooperation when they meet their Israeli counterparts at an upcoming meeting.

It could even help the EU, as Turkey could bring gas from energy-rich countries like Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Israel, Iran and Iraq to Europe.

But he warned that the EU may not be out of the mud for some time, stressing that “the problem will remain [with Europe] until 2025-30” because “there is no immediate solution” to replace energy from Russia.

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Imports

The EU is still considering oil and gas embargoes (Picture: Express)

The EU, while considering imposing a ban on oil and gas, has yet to embargo expensive fuel imports amid Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

This sparked fury in the European Parliament, which voted overwhelmingly in favor of an immediate ban on Putin’s fossil fuels.

But countries like Germany, which gets 55% of its gas from Russia, and Hungary, which had highlighted oil and gas embargoes as a “red line”, prevent the Commission from cutting off Russia.

This despite the bloc vowing to get tough on Putin after allegations of war crimes in the town of Bucha surfaced.

Even after coming under more intense pressure to sanction Russian gas,
German Finance Minister Christian Lindner has refused to cut energy ties with Russia, warning that it is not yet possible to do so.

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Orban

Orban said oil and gas sanctions were a ‘red line’ (Image: Getty)

Mr Lindner said it was “not possible” for Germany to cut Russian gas supplies now, adding “we need time”.

Speaking ahead of his talks with EU colleagues in Brussels, he said: “It is clear that we need to end all economic ties with Russia as quickly as possible.

“We must plan for severe sanctions, but the gas cannot be replaced in the short term.

Germany has also left itself in a tougher position than other countries as it is phasing out its remaining nuclear power plants, with the last three due to close this year.

Turkey, meanwhile, is planning a huge nuclear expansion.

The energy source is seen by Ankara as a key path to achieving carbon neutrality by 2035.

Scholz

Germany pushed back oil and gas sanctions (Image: Getty)

Already planning to build 12 large nuclear reactors on three sites, Turkey plans to build even more because these “will not be enough if you consider the years 2050-70. We need more”, according to M Bayraktar.

It is also reportedly in talks with China to build four large-scale nuclear reactors in the Thrace region of northwest Turkey.

But Russia is building one of Turkey’s first nuclear power plants, with the first of four reactors at the site due to come on stream next year.

Turkey’s plot to cut ties with Putin may also be somewhat hampered by the state-owned BOTAŞ Petroleum Pipeline Corporation’s deal with Gazprom Export signed in January.

The company is a subsidiary of Russian state-owned Gazprom and has agreed to increase deliveries to Turkey under the new energy deal.

But this agreement was signed before the Russian invasion, which Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called “unacceptable”.

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