Monday, 21 September 2009
Turkish Energy & Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz said Turkey was resolved on nuclear power plant.
"This will be Turkey's first Nuclear power plant and it is strategic. As it has legal aspects, decision process is prolonged. Our determination continues. However, we need time. A result can be obtained after some other assessments," Yildiz told A.A. correspondent.
Yildiz said agreement of Kirkuk-Yumurtalik Oil Pipeline will be concluded in the first half of 2010, "we are negotiating with Iraq regarding renewal of the agreement."
Yildiz said extension of the agreement period for another 20 years was foreseen, noting that, "we will travel to Baghdad next month and we will be able to clarify the matter there."
Yildiz said a new pipeline, parallel to the current one, was out of the question at the time being, adding that, "the pipeline has 70 million tone capacity. Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline has 50 million tone capacity. Kirkuk-Yumurtalik pipeline is as important as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline."
Yildiz said, "Kirkuk-Yumurtalik pipeline currently operates with 18 percent capacity. This should be increased."
Turkish minister said Arab Natural Gas Pipeline was a 1200 km line starting from Egypt to Turkey. He said 93 km part of this pipeline in Turkey was concluded, noting that the pipeline could be completed within the scope of the agreement reached with Syria. Yildiz said Syria would complete 60 km line on its territories.
