Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) signed an energy protocol on Tuesday that foresees the construction of an undersea electricity cable link between the two countries.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak and TRNC Economy and Energy Minister Sunat Atun signed the deal on the sidelines of 23rd World Energy Congress, of which Anadolu Agency is the global communication partner, in Istanbul.
'The electricity deal with TRNC will contribute not only to the wellbeing of TRNC but also the region,' Albayrak said during the press conference.
'Turkey plays an important role in energy. The Turkish Stream project that was signed yesterday [Monday] can be considered as one of the biggest global expansions in this sense,' said TRNC's Energy Minister Atun.
Atun said that the current agreement builds on the deal, which was signed in 2011 between Turkey and TRNC to allow Turkish Petroleum to conduct onshore and offshore oil exploration.
'This is a historic opportunity for us to be a part of interconnected system around us, especially at a time where energy is given more importance in the Middle East,' Atun said adding that it will be possible to transfer electricity to the southern parts of Middle East with this project.
He said he hoped that another project will allow for this electricity and water to be carried to other places through the TRNC, like the Turkish Stream.
'I previously made a call to Southern Cyprus to build a mutual transmission line and I repeat this call,' he stressed.
The agreement between Turkey and TRNC includes the renewal of electricity infrastructure, development of electricity supply security, the construction of interconnected system, mutual cooperation on renewable energy, the application of regulations in the electricity area as well as exploration of new oil and natural gas resources.
A consortium of experts later on in a separate meeting will discuss details on the route, including the length and the cost of the project.
- Water Supply Project
Turkey, a benefactor and protector of the TRNC since the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation and the TRNC’s establishment in 1983, has long planned to provide fresh water to the island, which is short of its own resources.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan officially launched a water supply project that provides the TRNC with fresh water for the next 50 years in 2011 when he was prime minister.
The first fresh water from Turkey to TRNC was sent last October and has continued without interruption under a protocol between the two countries.
The project will supply around 75 million cubic meters of water to the TRNC every year.
By Ebru Sengul
Anadolu Agency
ebrusengul@aa.com.tr