Those in attendance scrutinize the most fundamental problems of the country and the region. The fifth of these meetings, which have so far focused on subjects such as the Kurdish issue, the Cyprus problem and Iraq, was about energy, and it was attended by the highest authorities in the field.Energy Minister Hilmi Güler, who -- in his own words, owing to his upbringing and the moral values inculcated by his family, cannot boast of anything achieved in the field of energy -- shared, in the very humble manner for he is so well known, with attendees the magnificent achievements during the five years he has served as energy minister. Underscoring that all the projects and reforms were undertaken after consultations with the most prominent representatives of the electricity, oil and natural gas sectors, Minister Güler also recalled some of the things his ministry went through with the representatives of the sector when some critical decisions needed to be made.
The statement that left its indelible mark on the meeting also came from Minister Güler: “Energy is no longer only energy.” Energy from now on is an interdisciplinary field, he said, adding that energy has become an environmental issue with global warming and growing concerns about the environment; an economic issue that has risen to prominence demanding more attention with increasing energy prices; a legal issue of international interest with its discrepancies and commercial arbitration; a prime diplomatic issue since it constitutes one of the most fundamental instruments of international interdependence; and a serious security issue because its resources and transportation routes are of strategic value. Apparently, it will be an obligation to refer to energy security, energy diplomacy, energy economy and energy law whenever energy is in question.
In order to place a stronger emphasis on the role assumed by energy in international diplomatic, strategic and economic relations, he said: “While energy used to be a field under the roof of foreign policy, today it has become an element impacting and shaping foreign policy. It is even used in foreign policy as a weapon.”
Güler also maintained that Turkey was trying to become a full-fledged “energy terminal,” since referring to it as an “energy corridor” would be insufficient from now on. Throughout the meeting he provided detailed information on how the infrastructure of such a terminal would be shaped. Turkey is located between a region with the largest energy providers and a region with the largest energy consumers, Güler noted, adding that Turkey was endeavoring to become the primary route, or even a hub, that carries oil and natural gas produced and processed by Russia, the Caspian region, Iran and Iraq to Europe.
The minister also provided examples of the vivacity of the energy diplomacy Turkey was engaging in, emphasizing the importance of the Iraqi energy minister’s visit to Turkey and holding important talks following the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Iraq. Leading the six-partner Nabucco project that will carry Caspian natural gas to Europe, Turkey is unwilling to enter into a partnership with Gaz de France, Güler noted, hinting that it looks favorably upon a partnership with Russia, with which Turkey is supposed to be competing according to some, now that it is targeting the same market as Nabucco. In response to a question on this issue, Güler noted that a marriage between the South Stream project and Nabucco was possible, adding that feasibility studies on these projects would determine the fate of such a possibility.
The minister further noted that Turkey had to realize a $120 billion investment in the energy field by 2020 and that the ministry’s chief principle was the motto “the most expensive energy is the nonexistent energy.” He also touched upon multiple efforts exerted for the provision of energy from international sources, adding that the ministry is trying to reactivate Turkey’s idle energy resources.
Güler stated that the ministry has attached great importance to coal production and that it has drawn up a map of Turkey’s wind energy and presented it to interested parties, free of charge. The minister also stressed that the ministry has stepped up its efforts to find new natural gas and oil resources, noting that the new target was to drill as deep as 3,000 meters in oil and natural gas exploration. He also said the ministry has increased the budget of the Mining Exploration Institute (MTA) tenfold, that of the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) sevenfold and cited a coal reserve valued at $2.4 billion that was recently discovered. Another energy source valued by the ministry, he pointed out, is “thriftiness and efficiency,” on which he dwelled for a long time, also underscoring that the ministry was involved in comprehensive campaigns to raise the bar of social awareness on energy saving and the importance of promoting efficiency.
Listening to Minister Güler, I was filled with feelings of appreciation toward those who expend their energy day and night for the welfare of the nation, but also with just as intense of a grudge and condemnation toward those who dedicate themselves to thwarting and stalling these efforts.
