Türkiye is seeking to portray the planned natural gas pipeline connecting Anamur with an area east of Kyrenia in northern Cyprus as an "energy bridge" to Europe, according to a report published by the Turkish daily Türkiye.
Under the headline, Türkiye Did What Greece Could Not Do, the newspaper argues that the project extends beyond meeting the energy needs of northern Cyprus and forms part of a broader strategy to transport potential Eastern Mediterranean natural gas resources to European markets through Turkey.
The pipeline is expected to have a total length of 101 kilometres, of which 97 kilometres will be subsea and four kilometres on land. It is also designed to operate as a bidirectional system.
Two-stage strategy
In the first phase, the project aims to transport natural gas to northern Cyprus for electricity generation and to replace more expensive liquid fuels.
In the second phase, Ankara intends to use the pipeline as a potential route for transporting natural gas from the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe.
According to the report, Turkey is presenting the project as a means of strengthening its position on Europe's energy map and providing an alternative route for supplying European markets.
Target launch in 2028
Under the Turkish plan, infrastructure works are expected to be completed by the end of 2026, while the pipeline is scheduled to begin operations in 2028, the newspaper reported.
The report also links the project to Turkey "Mavi Vatan" (Blue Homeland) doctrine and says developments are being closely monitored by both Athens and Nicosia.
Source: CNA
