Turkey strategic transit route for European energy markets with Ukraine crisis - ENERGY

Turkey strategic transit route for European energy markets with Ukraine crisis - ENERGY:



"Turkey is emerging as a strategic transit route for natural gas due to the uncertainty surrounding Ukraine following the country’s internal upheaval, according to experts speaking at an April 28 energy conference in Washington.



Senior energy experts discussed Turkey’s energy policy, the importance of natural gas to the Turkish economy, the prospects for Turkey as a gas transit and emerging trading hub, and the energy dimensions of Turkish-U.S. relations, in a Brookings session entitled “Turkey’s Energy Security Calculus: Aspirations and Realities.”



Gareth Winrow, an independent energy expert and a former professor with Istanbul’s Bogaziçi University, said Turkey had become more important as an alternative energy route to Europe since the violent political turmoil engulfed Ukraine.



Turkey imports three-quarters of its energy and 98 percent of its natural gas, of which Russia supplies 60 percent. Turkey serves as a natural geographical bridge between Europe and Asia, and endeavors to become an energy hub, through which Eastern energy can be supplies to global markets – largely European."



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