By Fuat Kabakci
Türkiye is on track to have the third-largest natural gas storage capacity in Europe, thanks to the planned expansion of storage facilities.
Its strategic geographical position makes it a key transit country for natural gas pipelines from various regions, including Russia, the Caucasus, the Middle East and Africa.
Enhancing gas storage capacity ensures a more stable and secure supply of natural gas, reducing dependency on external sources and mitigating the risks associated with supply disruptions.
Europe has approximately 100 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas storage capacity. Germany ranks first with a capacity of 24 bcm, and Italy ranks second with a capacity of 16 bcm.
Türkiye, which has many years of experience in the use of natural gas in electricity generation and heating, aims to come in third with a storage capacity of 14.4 bcm, with the expansion works to be completed by 2028.
The country, which has made significant investments in pipelines, liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, offshore gas, and oil exploration fleets in the field of natural gas supply and processing infrastructure in the last 40 years, has intensified its efforts to increase the capacity of natural gas storage facilities.
At the heart of this expansion are Türkiye's two flagship storage facilities. Namely the Silivri Underground Natural Gas Storage Facility with a capacity of 4.6 bcm and the Tuz Golu Underground Natural Gas Storage Facility with a capacity of 1.2 bcm, the facilities constitute important components of the natural gas infrastructure.
- New target for Silivri gas storage facility
On Dec. 30, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced the expansion plan for the Silivri.
Bayraktar said that regarding the Silivri Natural Gas Storage Facility, they are working on a project that will increase the capacity here to 5.6 bcm. It means that an additional capacity of 1 bcm will be added to the facility.
"We want to increase the capacity of the facility within the next 2–3 years," the minister added.
It is aimed to increase the capacity of the Tuz Golu Underground Natural Gas Storage Facility, which has a gas storage capacity of 5.8 billion cubic meters, to 8.8 billion cubic meters by 2028 with the expansion works to be carried out, thus reaching the total capacity of 14.4 billion cubic meters.
Türkiye has invested in natural gas storage facilities, starting with the Silivri Underground Natural Gas Storage in 2007, followed by the Tuz Golu Underground Natural Gas Storage Facility in 2017. These facilities are crucial for ensuring a steady and secure supply of natural gas.
On the other hand, large storage facilities also contribute to Türkiye's preparedness for emergencies or supply disruptions, ensuring a continuous supply of gas for domestic and regional needs.
Türkiye aims to become a significant energy hub in the region. Enhancing gas storage capacity supports the energy hub strategy as well.
Having substantial gas storage facilities enhances its capability to play this role and supports its ability to store and then re-export gas, or to balance supply and demand across the region.
Last year, Türkiye signed natural gas export deals with some European countries, such as Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova. Each of these agreements outlines specific quantities and durations for gas exports, underscoring Türkiye's growing role in the European energy landscape.
These agreements not only augment Türkiye's role in European energy security but also reflect its strategic geographical position as a bridge between energy-rich regions and Europe.