Comments On The Role Of Turkey As An Energy Center

Year 2016, Issue: 1, 32 - 41, 30.01.2016

Oğuzhan Akyener Mehmet Apaydın

Abstract

Turkey, due to growing population and economy, faces
increasing consumption of energy, and day by day, becomes naturally a center of
demand for energy sources in a strategic geography with abundant sources, but
unfortunately, all the valuable sources are discovered outside the country
borders. Even though public related institutions and private sector do their
best to accelerate the exploration projects lately, the outcomes are
dissatisfactory and the increase in the production is always far from compensating
the increase in energy demand.

The increasing demand and unsatisfactory exploration results
lead to more energy shortage, which means higher overdependence of external
suppliers. Despite the failures in meeting local energy needs with national
resources, abundance of supply is fortunately not far away since geopolitical
location of Turkey is able to create some opportunities for its energy
supplies. As clearly seen in the world map, Turkey has a position as a bridge
between the energy-rich area (covering the Caspian Region, the Middle East and
the East Mediterranean Sea) and the demand center, Europe.  This leads Turkey to become an important
energy corridor in the region.

It is obvious that there will be enormous strategic and
economic benefits of becoming an energy corridor between energy producing and
consuming giants. However, if Turkey wants to get a bigger share from global
energy pie, studies shall focus on forming a real energy center as opposed to
being a transit country in this location.

In this paper, the strategic and economic benefits for the
situation of Turkey as an energy corridor today and in the future (2035) will
be analyzed. Moreover, after defining an energy transit corridor, energy hub,
and energy center, the difference between becoming an energy corridor, energy
hub, and a real energy center will be mentioned.  As a result, opinions on some necessary steps
that Turkey shall take to become an energy center will be elaborated and consistencies
of Turkey being an energy transit corridor and a real energy center will be
analyzed.

Keywords

Turkey As An Energy Center

References

• 1. Oguzhan Akyener, “Azerbaijan Gas Export Potential & Related Infrastructures for EU & TR Energy Security Issues (up to 2050)”, IPETGAS, 2015. 2. Oguzhan Akyener, “Southern Gas Corridor, Milestones and Other Turkmen Gas Export Options (via Turkish Stream)”, Insight Turkey, 2015. 3. Oguzhan Akyener, “Energy Security Struggle in Caspian Region From the View of Important Pipeline Projects”, TESPAM – Energy Policy Turkey (This Issue), 2016. 4. Oguzhan Akyener, “Azerbaijan’s Role for Turkey Being an Energy Transit Hub”, Azerbaijan Oil & Gas Week, 2013. 5. SOMO Oil Marketing Companay; accessible from http://somooil.gov.iq/ 6. BP, “Energy Outlook”, 2035. 7. CIA Fact book. 8. Bilgin M., “Turkey´s Energy Strategy: What Difference Does it Make to Become an Energy Transit Corrdior, Hub or Center”, UNISCI Discussion Papers, May 2010, ISSN 1696-2206.