Natural gas prices in the European market have repeatedly reached new highs, and many countries, including Germany, are actively looking for new channels to import energy. Outside analysts believe that Turkey, which connects Eurasia, is expected to build an "energy corridor" to control the main routes of natural gas transmission to Europe in the eastern Mediterranean, Russia and the Caucasus. Can Turkey really build an "energy corridor"? To what extent can this "energy corridor" alleviate the European energy crisis? Let's take a look at the observations brought by the Turkish correspondent of the general station.
Europe seeks to diversify its energy supply Geography has geographical advantages
Europe, mired in an energy crisis, is accelerating its quest to diversify its energy supply channels. According to the analysis, the most likely new sources of energy supply come from Central Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Gulf States in the Middle East.
Rajpu Kutay Karatsa, Professor of International Relations at Ayydin University in Turkey: The shortest way and the lowest cost of transporting energy from these regions to Europe is through Turkey. This is also why Turkey's strategic and geopolitical importance has increased considerably.
After the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Turkey did not participate in sanctions against Russia, and the "Turkey Creek" gas project developed in cooperation with Russia has remained normal and continues to transport Russian natural gas to Turkey and Europe.
In July, the EU and Azerbaijan signed a memorandum of understanding on expanding cooperation in the field of energy and increasing Azerbaijan's natural gas shipments to Europe. It is worth noting that as early as December 2011, Azerbaijan and Turkey signed a memorandum of cooperation on the "Joint Construction of Trans-Anatolia" gas pipeline project, transporting natural gas from the Caspian Sea gas field in Azerbaijan to Europe through Turkey. That is, No matter how much gas enters Europe through these pipelines in the future, Turkey can benefit from it.
Rajpu Kutai Karatsa, Professor of International Relations at Ayydin University in Turkey: Turkey doesn't just want to build an energy corridor. In fact, Turkey also wants to create an environment in which energy can be stored, repriced and sold.
Chen Huihui: Analysts believe that Turkey itself is a country that relies heavily on imports for energy, so the establishment of an energy corridor can not only further meet the demand for energy, but also enhance regional influence. The problem, however, is that there are probably many practical difficulties that lie ahead in achieving this goal.
The existing gas delivery volume of Turkey Creek is far from meeting European demand
Experts point out that whether it is the trans-Anatolian gas pipeline project or the "Turkey Creek" project, the amount of natural gas that can be transported to Europe is far from meeting the huge demand in Europe today.
Turkish energy expert Ufolk Orgun: The Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP) carries 16 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Europe every year, while Russia's annual supply of natural gas to European countries is close to 155 billion cubic meters, so it is really not worth mentioning, not even 20%.
The infrastructure construction of the "energy corridor" is highly risky
There are reports that Turkey is currently discussing the construction of an energy pipeline with Israel, and plans to transport the undersea natural gas extracted by Israel to Europe through Turkey. But Olgun believes that the new pipeline faces a series of problems of large investment and high risk.
Turkish energy expert Ufolk Olgun: Such a big construction, such a big investment, it necessarily requires a lot of money, and Turkey does not have it. We need foreign direct investment. If you want to build a gas pipeline that has been running for years, you have to make sure it's profitable. But if natural gas prices can't continue to be high in the future, what investor will have such a big interest in investing?
Complex geopolitics is also one of the major challenges
Complex geopolitics is also one of the challenges. Turkey was once an important strategic partner of Israel in the Middle East, but in the past decade or so, the two countries have been in constant friction. Although the two sides recently announced a full resumption of diplomatic relations, Turkey has not changed its position on key issues such as Palestine.
The analysis believes that complex diplomatic relations may be a key factor hindering energy cooperation between the two countries. In addition, in the cooperation on oil and gas resources in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey is at odds with Greece, Cyprus, Egypt and other countries in the region. Some analysts believe that in terms of the current situation and objective conditions, turkey wants to become an important regional energy hub, which remains to be observed.