Turkey Plans to Expand Gas Infrastructure

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar stated that "his country plans to expand its gas infrastructure at a time when it is laying the foundation for a gas exchange project, through which Southeast European countries can obtain gas." He said this during a press conference held yesterday, which the ministry broadcast today, noting that gas coming from Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia via pipelines could supply this center and be priced in the local gas exchange. He added that Ankara also aims to finalize an agreement with China within a few months to build a nuclear power plant in Thrace. "We have been negotiating with a Chinese company for a very long time. We are very close (to concluding it)," he stated. Turkey intends to expand gas infrastructure in the Thrace region in the northwest, connecting liquefied natural gas terminals and a developed storage facility in Silivri.