Turkey is expected to host and supply roughly 40 billion cubic meters of natural gas through a new regional hub to be developed on Turkish soil, according to a statement attributed to Fatih Dönmez, the minister in charge of energy affairs.
Throughout the year, Turkey has pressed ahead with its ambitions. The proposed hub could begin operations soon, using Turkey’s own Black Sea gas as a cornerstone. Analysts estimate that domestic gas production and storage could support annual flows in the 55 to 60 billion cubic meter range. With a robust gas network in place, the hub could route significant volumes to international markets, peaking at around 100 billion cubic meters in total exports, while potential domestic supply could reach 40 billion cubic meters given effective planning and execution (source: official remarks quoted by TASS).
Minister Dönmez stressed that Turkey should not be viewed merely as a transit route in relation to the hub. The country aims to position itself as a critical energy center, with the hub located on Turkish soil and operations expected to commence within roughly a year, marking a strategic shift in regional gas trade dynamics.
Previously, statements suggested that the gas hub in Turkey could be up and running as early as 2023, signaling strong political will behind the project. In conversations about regional energy security, Turkish leadership underscored the hub’s role in diversifying supply routes and stabilizing supply, pricing, and market expectations across Europe and neighboring regions (attribution: TASS and official ministry briefings).
Experts from Moscow have also weighed in, with Yuri Pilipson, head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Fourth European Department, arguing that Turkey’s gas hub has the potential to stabilize world energy markets, reflecting a broader belief in the hub’s capacity to influence supply balance and price signals on a global scale (reported by international observers).