ISTANBUL 

Russian natural gas volumes from the West Line to Turkey fell by 40 percent, said Turkey's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources on Thursday.

"Russia's daily natural gas delivery to Turkey decreased by nearly 40 percent, which is not good news for Turkey," said Taner Yildiz at a press conference at the Atlantic Council Energy and Economic Summit held in Istanbul. 

Yildiz stated that the volume of gas from the West Line has fallen from 42 to 27-28 million cubic meters per day, while he did not comment on the reason for the decrease.

"The amount should increase again to the contract level. Turkey pays its dues on time," he added. 

Turkey imports six billion cubic meters of natural gas per year from Russia via the West Line over its northwest Thrace region from Russia, according to figures from the Turkish Petroleum Pipeline Corporation, BOTAS. 

Wind energy deal with the U.S. 

Yildiz held a press conference with the U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz at the summit after the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding between Turkey and the U.S. for improving wind energy. 

"The MoU is one more step towards a stong relationship between our countries for economic development, clean energy and addressing our mutual concerns on energy security," said Moniz.

Yildiz said that they want the wind turbines to be manufactured in Turkey to target a $500 million worth of investment at least.

"Turkey had an installed capacity of 19 megawatts twelve years ago. Now, this is up to around 3500-3600 megawatts," he added.  

Iraqi oil

The Iraqi Federal Government in Baghdad and the Kurdish Regional Government in Erbil reached an agreement last Thursday to resolve all outstanding issues between them. 

Relations between Erbil and Baghdad have been strained since the Kurdish Regional Government began exporting oil independently to world markets via pipelines through Turkey in January. 

"Iraq, as a whole, has tremendous energy resources, and we support the development of these sources within its consitutional franework," Moniz said. 

"The agreement they reached last week is a first step between Baghdad and Kirkuk to work together," he added. 

Iraq’s federal government had said the regional government exported Iraqi oil illegally without Baghdad’s authorization, while Erbil argued the oil sales were in compliance with the new Iraqi constitution.

"The shares from Iraqi oil revenues are determined by Iraq's constitution. Turkey helps Iraq by selling its oil to international markets in such times when it needs stability the most," Yildiz said. 

"Iraq is a whole and there is no difference in its north or south, in Erbil or Basra. The oil belongs to all of Iraq," he added. 

Possible Turkish- American nuclear cooperation

"We discussed the possibility of further collaboration this morning on nuclear power plants in Turkey," said Moniz. 

"In the U.S., we remain committed to nuclear power. We are promoting small reactors between 50-200 megawatts of power for the future," Moniz added. 

Yildiz stated that U.S.' policies on nuclear, coal and renewable energy are praiseworthy, while nuclear energy is very important for Turkey to diversify its energy sources.  

Route of eastern Mediterrenean gas to Europe

Yildiz spoke on the tensions in the island of Cyprus, and stated that the natural gas resources around the island belong to all Cypriots. 

"If we say Iraqi oil belongs to all Iraq, we should hold the same argument for Cyprus too," he added. 

Israel plans to export its natural gas by one of two possible routes to reach the European market, according to energy experts. 

While one of the options is to deliver the gas through southern Cyprus to Greece and to Europe, the other viable option is to use the route through northern Cyprus to Turkey and then to Europe. 

"The future of natural gas in Israeli territories should be determinded in the most feasible way. Experts on the issue know the best and most feasible way to deliver the gas to Europe. We believe, in time, the most reasonable solution will reveal itself," Yildiz concluded.  

www.aa.com.tr/en