Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) signed an agreement Friday to develop a 101-kilometer subsea natural gas pipeline that will strengthen Northern Cyprus' energy security, support electricity generation and advance its long-term electrification strategy.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Bayraktar said the planned pipeline would extend from Anamur on Türkiye's Mediterranean coast to the Teknecik region of Northern Cyprus, comprising 97 kilometers offshore and 4 kilometers onshore.
"The pipeline will be a key component of Northern Cyprus' energy transition and energy security. It will help ensure uninterrupted electricity supply and further strengthen the strategic cooperation between our countries," Bayraktar said.
The project envisages the construction of two 22-inch pipelines. Bayraktar said the system would be designed for bidirectional operation, allowing natural gas to flow from Türkiye to the island and, in the future, potentially from Cyprus to Türkiye and onward to Europe should new gas resources be developed.
Natural gas transported through the pipeline will primarily be used for electricity generation.
- Pipeline to support electrification, reduce fuel imports
Bayraktar said Türkiye's energy strategy extends beyond expanding natural gas infrastructure and increasingly emphasizes electrification across sectors including transportation.
He noted that Türkiye aims to raise the share of electrification in its economy to 35% by 2035, adding that the TRNC is pursuing a similar target.
According to Bayraktar, authorities in Northern Cyprus are preparing an electrification master plan covering key sectors such as tourism, agriculture and transportation, while the growing adoption of electric vehicles is expected to increase electricity demand in the coming years.
"The step we are taking today will help meet future electricity demand in a secure and sustainable manner," he said, adding that the project would also reduce imports of petroleum and petroleum products.
Bayraktar said natural gas supplied through the planned pipeline would strengthen the TRNC's electricity generation capacity and support its broader energy transition.
"With the natural gas we will bring, we believe the TRNC will achieve an abundance of electricity," he said.
Describing the pipeline as a "historic project," Bayraktar said it had the potential to become "the project of the century" for Northern Cyprus.
Reporting by Gülsen Cagatay, Basak Erkalan Koprubasılı
Writing by Duygu Alhan
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr
