“We have the Southern Gas Corridor,” said Kaymakcı. “We have 18 billion cubic meters of gas, coming mainly from Azerbaijan — and we can easily expand this, connecting it to Mediterranean gas. Our role is there, our potential is there.”
However, high-level talks over energy trade between Turkey and the EU were suspended in 2019, with the bloc’s leaders saying no meetings would be held “for the time being” over a dispute between Ankara and member country Cyprus over gas drilling rights in the Mediterranean.
According to a European Council statement, Turkish companies were looking to extract fossil fuels “within Cypriot territorial waters.” Cyprus and Greece also have hopes of exploiting the lucrative natural resources, but have faced opposition from Turkey.
“Despite this potential, EU-Turkey energy dialogue is blocked because of decisions taken in 2019. We see this as a lose-lose situation,” said Kaymakcı. “Turkey is one of the three or four main energy arteries — whether to use it or not is up to the EU.”
According to him, only Cyprus now remains opposed to restarting dialogue on the issue. “They may not need much energy in the sunny Mediterranean,” the ambassador said, “but most of the member states say they need more energy, more diversification. So it’s only going to continue.”
Power play
As well as transiting Azerbaijani gas and exporting its own domestic reserves, Turkey imports fuel from Russia via the TurkStream pipeline under the Black Sea. After the Kremlin’s agreement with Ukraine ended on Jan. 1, the underwater link is the only remaining route for Moscow to ship supplies to Europe.
