Turkey best energy hub between Iraq and Europe
Posted by meb at February 15th, 2008
Fadi Hakura, the Turkey specialist at London-based international think tank Chatham House, has stated that Turkey is the optimal energy hub through which Iraqi petroleum and natural gas could be exported to Europe.
Speaking to an Anatolia news agency reporter yesterday, Hakura emphasized that Turkey is the best prepared country in the region in terms of energy infrastructure; thus for Iraq it is a geo-strategic necessity to export its energy resources through Turkey. “Marketing and exporting Iraqi energy over other energy routes excluding Turkey would cost a lot more. The Syrian route is only appropriate for the Mediterranean, and thus would not be useful for exports to Europe,” Hakura stated. He also noted that transferring Iraqi natural gas would allow Europeans not to rely solely on Russia for this resource.
Hakura said Turkey has to develop a variety of resources so as to achieve energy security, adding that Turkey’s unique location provides the opportunity to acquire several energy sources. Furthermore, Hakura stated that because it is in ideal proximity to Iraq and the Middle East, Turkey could make use of this advantage and become influential in joint production and distribution of Iraqi energy resources. He also urged Turkey to be careful in cooperating with Iran on energy and stated that Turkey should not trust Iran for natural gas transfer in particular.
source: Today’s Zaman
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