“Presidential Candidate Warns of Increased Energy Dependence on Russia with Construction of Gas Hub in Thrace”

Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s rival for the presidency in Turkey fears that the construction of a gas hub in the Turkish region of Thrace will lead to an increase in energy dependence on Russia, Turkish media reported, referring to a statement by Kemal Kulçdaroğlu to Babala TV, BTA reported.

The presidential candidate of the opposition National Alliance, Kemal Kulçdaroğlu, stated that he has no objections to Turkey’s good relations with Russia. “What I object to is Turkey becoming dependent on Russia in the field of energy,” he emphasized.

In his words, such dependence is “extremely dangerous and could create big problems for Turkey in the future”. “You keep saying: ‘We made an agreement with Russia, it will create a gas center here. In fact, she will gladly come and create a gas center, increase (Turkey’s) dependence from 30-40 percent to 90 percent, take over you,” Kulçdaroğlu said, addressing the current rulers.

Russia is Turkey’s largest gas importer, supplying the country with about three times more blue fuel than other suppliers, including Azerbaijan, Iran, as well as Qatar, the United States, Nigeria and Algeria, where Turkey receives liquefied natural gas. The idea of ​​creating a gas center in Turkey for gas supplies to Europe was proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in October last year, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan supported it. At the end of last year, the Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Dönmez said that the project to create an energy center on the territory of Turkey is planned to be implemented within a year.

The leader of the People’s Republican Party recalled the motto of the founder of the republic Mustafa Kemal Atatürk for energy independence. “You are losing economic independence in energy,” he warned. Kulçdaroğlu promised that if he comes to power, what he will do is to ensure the transit of Eastern Mediterranean gas through Turkey to Europe, thus ensuring a reduction in the price of energy “by 3.5-4 cents”. “Becoming 70 percent dependent on another country means becoming its hostage,” he also pointed out.