By Chrysa Liaggou
Turkey is seeking to reshape the energy landscape of the Eastern Mediterranean by pushing ahead with plans to build an undersea natural gas pipeline linking mainland Turkey directly to the occupied areas of Cyprus.
Athens and Nicosia are closely monitoring Ankara’s moves, believing the project goes beyond a simple bilateral energy link and forms part of Turkey’s broader geopolitical strategy for the region. Turkey has already issued a NAVTEX, valid until Aug. 30, for seismic surveys in the Mediterranean by the research vessel Oruc Reis.
The pipeline plan follows a memorandum of understanding signed on July 10 between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side for the development of the project.
About four months earlier, however, the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) rejected Turkey’s proposal for an electricity interconnection with the occupied north. In a statement issued on April 10, ENTSO-E made it clear that it would not consider including in its 10-year development plan any project developed without the agreement of Cyprus’ transmission system operator, which is the only operator recognized under European law in the Republic of Cyprus.
At the same time, ENTSO-E stressed that the only electricity interconnection project involving the Republic of Cyprus included in European planning is the Greece-Cyprus-Israel interconnector (GSI).
Following that setback, Ankara is now seeking to fast-track the natural gas pipeline instead. Unlike the proposed electricity link, the gas pipeline is not subject to the same level of institutional oversight by European bodies and, according to Turkey’s position, can move forward as a bilateral energy infrastructure project between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side.
According to Turkey’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, the pipeline will be about 101 kilometers (63 miles) long.
However, Ankara appears to view the project as part of a much broader energy strategy for the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkish media reports suggest that, at a later stage, the pipeline could become part of a larger corridor transporting natural gas from the Eastern Mediterranean to Turkey and, from there, on to European markets.
Turkey’s plans have drawn a strong response from Nicosia, which argues that developing energy infrastructure without the consent of the Republic of Cyprus violates its sovereign rights.
Athens has taken a similar stance, closely following developments and, according to reports, is expected to seek intervention from the European Union.
A first appeal has already been made to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas by PASOK MEP Giannis Maniatis, who raised concerns over protecting the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus and called for targeted sanctions.
