Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan may join new gas route to Türkiye, Europe

Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan may become part of a new route for supplying natural gas to Türkiye and onward to Europe, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar told TRT Haber, Report informs.

According to him, Ankara is discussing projects with Baghdad that, at the first stage, envisage supplying natural gas to Iraqi power plants using Turkish infrastructure. This would partially cover Iraq's fuel needs for electricity generation.

The minister said Türkiye is considering the future construction of a gas pipeline along an oil pipeline planned to be extended to Basra, as well as alongside power transmission lines.

According to Bayraktar, the project could in the future make it possible to transport Qatari and other natural gas produced in Gulf countries through Iraq to Türkiye and then to the European market.

"An alternative route may pass through Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria, after which the gas would also reach Türkiye," Bayraktar said.

The minister stressed that Türkiye has one of the most developed gas infrastructures in the region. He said the country has built more than 20,000 kilometers of high-pressure main gas pipelines and about 220,000 kilometers of distribution networks supplying gas to homes and businesses.

Bayraktar added that this infrastructure would make it possible to implement large-scale transregional energy projects and strengthen Türkiye's role as a key gas hub.

On August 1, Iraq and Türkiye signed an agreement on the transportation and transshipment of Iraqi crude oil through a pipeline to the port of Ceyhan. The document provides for a minimum pumping volume of 750,000 barrels per day. According to Bayraktar, Türkiye has the potential to increase supplies to 2 million-2.5 million barrels per day.