Energy minister: No energy projects to be developed with Israel until relations normalized

Yıldız stated that the two countries are not currently carrying out any joint energy projects, but there are several previously outlined projects that are in preparatory stages, the Blue Stream 2 pipeline to supply natural gas to Cyprus, Israel and other countries in the Middle East and the Manavgat River project to transport water from Turkey to Israel. Yıldız stressed that “Turkey does not have any intention to initiate any part of these projects until Israel apologizes and expresses its regret [for the attack on the Gaza-bound aid flotilla on Monday].”

“Now is not the time to talk about such projects when we are encountering serious problems while talking about human-centered issues. I hope relations will be normalized. Turkey has taken more than the necessary steps to this end but it is our natural right to expect Israel to make more of an effort [in this regard]. I can say that the things we’ve heard during the last two days especially have made us feel more comfortable,” noted Yıldız.

Relations between the two countries, longtime allies, were seriously strained after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) raided a Turkish-flagged humanitarian aid vessel, the Mavi Marmara, as it was en route to Gaza in an attempt to break Israel’s blockade of the area on Monday. The brutal raid left nine peace activists dead and wounded many more.

The minister noted that this decision does not apply to private sector projects and they have not directed firms to avoid trade with Israel.

Asked whether Israel’s raid was related to a nuclear agreement signed between Brazil, Turkey and Iran last month in which Iran agreed to send some of its low-enriched uranium abroad in return for fuel rods for a research reactor, Yıldız replied that he wants to believe that it is not. Turkey contributes to every peaceful movement in the region, he added.

Turkey to generate 30 pct of its energy from renewable sources

Turkey aims to generate a minimum of 30 percent of its total energy production from renewable resources by 2020, Yıldız has said.

Delivering a speech at the Energy Efficiency Conference, organized jointly by the US Department of Energy and the Turkish-American Business Council (TAİK), in İstanbul yesterday, Yıldız noted that countries around the world are trying hard to find new ways of energy production and that investments in clean energy are on the rise. Turkey enjoyed a stunning 178 percent growth in clean energy investment in the past five years, one of the highest growth rates among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, the minister noted. “Almost 20 percent of the energy produced in Turkey is generated from renewable energy resources including hydro, geothermal and wind power, indicating that we are not in a bad position in this field. But it is not sufficient. Our target is to increase the share of energy generated from renewable resources to around 30 percent by 2020,” said Yıldız.

In recent years OECD countries have enjoyed a 1 percent improvement in energy efficiency per year, he said, adding that the European Union’s energy efficiency action plan envisions cutting energy use by around 20 percent until 2020. “We should decrease our energy use by at least 15 percent by 2015 from our 2008 figures,” the minister stated.

Energy policies depend on global developments, he underlined, adding that energy efficiency and renewable energy are two issues that always remain on the agenda. Yıldız expressed his concern over a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, adding that “there are important lessons that should be learnt from the accident.”

The world’s population is expected to grow four-fold by 2050, he said, warning that the rise in demand for fossil fuels would also cause a rise in greenhouse gases. “If we do not change our habits, it will be worse,” said Yıldız.