Syria 'wants Iranian gas through Turkish pipeline'

Ankara: Turkey's Energy Ministry has received a letter from Syria expressing interest in receiving natural gas from Iran through Turkish pipelines, it said yesterday.

Syria aims to buy 2 billion to 3 billion cubic metres of Iranian gas annually, a senior ministry official told Reuters, adding that officials from the three countries may meet in the next few days to discuss the issue.

"When other energy projects are also taken into account, Turkey is growing stronger in the region (as a transit country)," the official said.

Turkey is examining with Russia, its main gas supplier, the possibility of extending the Blue Stream pipeline to Israel. Turkey is also central to a $5.8 billion pipeline that would pump Central Asian gas to Austria via the Balkans.

Other pipelines across Turkish territory are planned.

An official from Botas, which runs Turkey's gas pipelines, said Syria could receive the gas via a planned pipeline that will link Nevsehir in central Turkey and Kilis, a town near the Turkish-Syrian border.

"In this situation, there would not be any need for the construction of a new and expensive pipeline... Syria's needs for 2-3 billion cubic metres could easily be met with this pipeline," the official said. The Botas official said Syria's integration into the pipeline system would boost Turkey's role in the region.

With this project Iran, Syria and Turkey will be working together in the energy field... This would also contribute to solution of problems we have faced until now with Iran over the quality and quantity of natural gas," he said.

"(This is) because Syria will move with and back up Turkey in talks with Iran."