ADANA, Turkey
Ceyhan, a port in southern Turkey where Iraqi and Caspian oil meet, is on the path to becoming an energy hub.
The Ceyhan district of Adana, located in the Cukurova region, where agriculture has been an important part of life throughout the years, is now referred to as oil central. Ceyhan, where Turkey’s two main pipelines, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Kirkuk-Ceyhan, are located, makes up an important part of the energy corridor. Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan has a yearly capacity of 50 million tons and Kirkuk- Ceyhan has a yearly capacity of 70 million tons.
With Ceyhan is on its way to becoming an energy hub, there are hopes for further employment in the district. Ceyhan, aiming to draw the attention of big investors, is expected to get even more investments in the coming years.
Seref Can, the president of Ceyhan’s Chamber of Commerce, said that with the pipelines the district has gained importance in the field of energy.
Can said he believes the lack of an organized industrial zone in Ceyhan led to the district not being able to use its full potential. He said the first goal is to raise employment in the region. Drawing investors to the district will happen by establishing an organized industrial zone and a petrochemical plant, he said.
“We are waiting for investors intended on providing employment”
Speaking of the 14,500-acre available for energy specialty, Can said, “A petrochemical plant is planned to be built here. If these accrue, more investors will come to the district."
He said the city is looking forward to attracting investors who will focus more on creating employment than on making huge profits.
Explaining how having an organized industrial zone will make it easier for Ceyhan to reach its goals, Can said that once it is set up, not only will Adana's future be bright, but so will that of southeastern Turkey.
- “Ceyhan’s long term future is very bright”
Can said the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipelines contribute much to the national economy and have strategic importance for getting Ceyhan’s name heard.
“Ceyhan and Turkey are one and the same," he said. "Adana or Ceyhan does not benefit separately from such developments. It is for Turkey’s benefit. However, what we want to see here in Ceyhan is that investors provide people with employment by working in our region.
"Ceyhan’s long term future is very bright," he said.
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