Türkiye has begun construction of a 160,000-cubic-meter liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tank at its Marmaraereglisi LNG Terminal, the Turkish energy and natural resources minister said on Monday.
The fourth storage tank will increase the terminal's total LNG storage capacity from 255,000 cubic meters to 415,000 cubic meters, Alparslan Bayraktar said in a post on the Turkish social media company NSosyal.
“A strong storage infrastructure means stronger energy security, greater flexibility and an energy system that can better withstand crises,” Bayraktar added.
“As we build the infrastructure needed to reliably meet Türkiye’s growing energy needs, we will continue investing toward our goal of full energy independence,” he added.
Operated by state pipeline company Turkish Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS), the terminal in the northwestern province of Tekirdag has a daily regasification capacity of 37 million cubic meters and plays a central role in meeting Türkiye's peak winter gas demand, according to Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Ministry.
The facility can receive conventional LNG carriers as well as larger Q-Flex and Q-Max vessels. It handles about 65 LNG cargoes annually and supplies roughly 15% of Türkiye's yearly natural gas demand.
In addition to storing imported LNG and regasifying it for delivery into the national transmission network, the terminal also provides truck-loading, LNG bunkering and reloading services.
Türkiye currently has five LNG import facilities- two onshore terminals and three floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs). BOTAS operates the Marmaraereglisi LNG Terminal as well as the Dortyol and Saros FSRUs.
The country has significantly expanded its LNG infrastructure over the past decade. Daily regasification capacity has increased from 34 million cubic meters in 2016 to about 161 million cubic meters today. The ministry aims to increase that figure to 200 million cubic meters per day with the addition of two new FSRUs.
By Handan Kazanci
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr
