ISTANBUL. Dec 31: Iran and Turkey are considering constructing a pipeline across Turkish territory to export some Iranian oil from a Mediterranean port, Turkish Energy Minister Recal Kutan said Monday, reports AFP.
Feasibility studies have been launched for a pipeline through which Iranian oil would be pumped to our (Mediterranean) port of Ceyhan." Kutan told reporters here after wrapping up a visit to Tehran. He did not give details.
"We hope to make Ceyhan an International oil centre, Kutan said.
Another pipeline between Kirkuk in northern Iraq and the Turkish port of Yumurtallk near Ceyhan reopened earlier this month, carrying Iraqi oil to the Mediterranean as part of
Baghdad's oil-for-food deal with the United Nations.
Ankara also plans to bring Azerbaijan s oil from rich petrol fields in the Caspian sea to Ceyhan via a pipeline across Georgian and Turkish territory.
In Tehran. Kutan also signed an agreement with Turkmenistan's officials under which Turkey would receive between six and eight billion cubic metres of Turkmen natural gas after 2000 via a pipeline across Iran.
In the long run, Turkmenistan. a former Soviet re-Sublic In central Asia which as the world's fourth-largest natural gas reserves, plans to sell its gas to Europe through Turkey. Kutan said.
Lacking oil and gas resources. Turkey fears an energy shortage in the coining years
and has stepped up efforts to secure gas deals with several countries, particularly after Islamist Prime Minister Necmet-tln Erbakan came to power in June.
Since August. Erbakan's aides have signed multi-billion-dollar gas accords with Iran and Egypt.
Turkey, which currently uses eight billion cubic metres of mainly Russian gas a year, estimates that it will need 55 billion cubic metres by 2020.
Foreign minister Tansu Ciller said last week that Ankara and Moscow had agreed In principle for the annual sale of another 27 billion cubic metres of Russian gas to Turkey in the next decade.
Turkey also has smaller liquified natural gas deals with Algeria. Nigeria and Yemen.