Azerbaijan, Baku, April 5 / Trend A. Taghiyeva /
It is possible to transport Cypriot and Israeli gas to Europe via Turkey. However implementation of this project may face a number of political obstacles, analyst at the International Strategic Research Organization (USAK) Hasan Selim Ozertem said.
"The most profitable means of transporting gas produced in Cyprus and Israel to Europe is the use of Turkish territory," he told Trend. "However, the conflict existing between Turkey and Cyprus could become an obstacle to its realisation."
He added that the transportation of Cypriot and Israeli gas via Turkey is advantageous because Cyprus may supply gas to Turkey by constructing a short gas pipeline, and then to supply gas to Europe using the Turkish existing infrastructure.
The Interconnector Turkey-Greece-Italy project (ITGI) has previously proposed a new strategy which would see the transportation of the Mediterranean gas to European markets.
Chairman and executive director of the Greek DEPA Gas Corporation Harry Sachinis said that ITGI may be associated with potential natural gas reserves in coastal areas of Cyprus and Israel.
"Europe will be interested in this project because firstly this is the way of diversifying gas supplies to the EU and second, this project could be a step towards resolving the conflict between Turkey and Cyprus," Ozertem said.
He added that no one can say that Turkey stands against this project, as no public body has officially refused to participate.
Regarding whether this project may compete with the Southern Gas Corridor, the expert said that no competition may be there because it is possible to implement the Cypriot and Israeli gas transportation project to Europe in the long term.
"This project implementation will take much time," the expert said. "First the development of deposits in Cyprus and Israel will require time. Second, it is necessary to solve political problems with Turkey to transport Cypriot and Israeli gas to Europe."
The Southern Gas Corridor is a priority for EU energy projects. It is intended to diversify the routes and sources of energy supply and thereby increase EU energy security. Southern Gas Corridor projects include the Nabucco gas pipeline and Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), TANAP.