Turkey and Egypt are conducting high level talks in preparation for a gas pipeline deal, reports the Turkish news website Zaman Online. The pipeline, carrying natural gas, will begin in Cairo and will enter Turkey from Kilis in the south of the country. From there the Egyptian gas will be sent to the rest of Europe.
Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Hilmi Guler met with Egyptian Minister of Oil Sami Fahmi on Monday. Guler, who made a statement after the meeting, said they discussed the schedule for the signing of the deal, as well as other technical matters.
Guler added that the 240-km (149-mile) pipeline will be built by a consortium which will be established for this purpose. Egypt will begin the export of gas to Turkey by March 2007, reports Zaman Online.
“Natural gas coming from Egypt will diversify Turkey’s resources and Turkey will, in a sense, function as an energy corridor for Europe’s need of gas,” said Guler.
Guler also spoke about future plans for the extension of the pipeline. “Europe is waiting for the gas coming from Turkey. We have signed an agreement with Greece. We are trying to take one branch of the gas [pipeline] to Italy via Greece and another branch to Austria and Hungary,” he concluded.