Monday, August 6, 2007

Natural Gas from Turkey to Greece

Today’s Zaman Istanbul internet newspaper reported on August 6, 2007 that the Natural gas pipeline construction between Turkey and Greece has been completed. The construction of the Turkey-Greece pipeline that will carry natural gas from the Caspian Sea Basin, Central Asia and the Middle East to Europe is a long project that has taken many years to complete, but it is finished today.

The River Meriç “trans pass,” which was the project’s last phase of construction under the Turkish side was completed with attendance of Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Güler and Greek Energy Minister Dimitris Siou on Saturday, August 5, 2007. The project was completed 20 days earlier than expected, as this pipeline will be extended to Italy from Greece. Minister Güler of Turkey said the pipeline would transport 250 million cubic meters of natural gas for the first year and is expected to carry up to 3 billion cubic meters in the future years to come as clients are lined up to use the pipeline and its efficiency is demonstrated. The Turkey-Greece pipeline is viewed as an important alternative energy route for Europe, which is trying to decrease its energy dependence on Russia, and has used its near monopoly gas pipeline supplies to extract political concessions from supplied European countries.

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