KAYSERI
Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Sources Taner Yildiz has said, "Our politics with Russia, Iran and Syria may be different however cooperation in the energy field continues and it is isolated from politics. The other day when flow of both Azerbaijani and Iranian gas was cut, after our request from Russia, Moscow increased the amount of gas flow by 1.5 times."
Minister Yildiz replied the questions of journalists at the Third Turkey Energy summit in Kayseri on Thursday.
Minister said that the nuclear power plant to be built in Akkuyu will not increase our dependence on Russia in energy in the contrary it will decrease it.
Yildiz reminded that they signed an agreement the other day with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the framework of generating electricity/power from coal at the Afsin Elbistan basin in Turkey. He noted that once they agree permanently, UAE will invest 5 billion USD in the region which will become Turkey's largest Arab investment in the energy field.
Minister Yildiz stated that the UAE officials are interested in the nuclear power plant which is planned to be built in Sinop town in north of Turkey, he added, "UAE officials stated that in the case of South Korea undertakes the construction of the power plant, UAE will become the partner of the project. These developments are pleasing for us."
Yildiz also replied the question of a journalist regarding the Syrian plane which was forced to land in Ankara, the minister said, "Our politics with Russia, Iran and Syria may be different however cooperation in the energy field continues and it is isolated from politics. The other day when flow of both Azerbaijani and Iranian gas was cut, after our request from Russia, Moscow increased the amount of gas flow 1.5 times. I thank Russian and Gazprom officials for their kind manner. Again, our politics with China and Syria have differences but cooperation in the energy field continues."
Syria had quit buying electricity from Turkey
Energy minister said Thursday Syria had halted on its own will buying electricity from Turkey amid tensions between the two countries mounted after a week of artillery and mortar trade across the border since last Wednesday when an errant Syrian shell landed inside last week, killing five civilians -- all women and children.
"Syria on its own choice quit last week buying electricity from our country. But I'd like to remind that our doors are open if they prefer to resume buying electricity for the use of all Syrian people," Taner Yildiz told reporters in the central city of Kayseri after a national energy conference.
Yildiz said Syria had purchased from private Turkish companies 2.3 billion kWh of electricity since July 2011, adding that Turkish supply constituted nearly 20 percent of Syria's overall annual consumption.
CEO of a Turkish company selling electricity to Syria said the halt was due to a damage the Syrian power grid suffered from the 19-month-old crisis in the country.
