First Overseas Assignment for Turkish FSRU
An FSRU (Floating LNG storage and gasification vessel) belonging to BOTAŞ will leave the borders of Türkiye for the first time and will serve in Egypt in the summer months. Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar stated that they have realized another first for Türkiye and said, "With the contract signed between our national company BOTAŞ and Egypt's public energy company EGAS, an FSRU in the inventory of BOTAŞ will serve periodically abroad for the first time. Thus, a flexible and efficient utilization model that will contribute to the natural gas supply security of both our country and Egypt will be put into operation."
Two Important Agreements
Minister Bayraktar met with Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi in Ankara. Following the meeting held at the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, two important agreements were signed between the two countries in the fields of energy and mining.
First, Ministers Bayraktar and Badawi signed the “Memorandum of Understanding on Hydrocarbons and Mining”. According to the MoU, opportunities in hydrocarbon exploration, development and production activities in offshore and onshore areas will be evaluated. Investments in the mining sector will be mutually encouraged and technical cooperation in these areas will be strengthened.
Joint Projects
Commenting on the agreement, Minister Bayraktar said, “We will carry out joint projects in strategic areas such as oil, natural gas, geothermal, hydrogen and critical minerals, and increase the sharing of technical knowledge and expertise.”
A New Model
The second agreement between Türkiye and Egypt was signed between BOTAŞ and Egypt's public energy company EGAS under the auspices of the ministers. With the signing of the “FSRU Time Charter Contract”, a new international cooperation model has been put into effect in which a Turkish FSRU will serve abroad.
Contribution to Security of Supply
Emphasizing that this model is a first for Türkiye, Minister Bayraktar said: "With the contract signed between our national company BOTAŞ and Egypt's public energy company EGAS, an FSRU in BOTAŞ inventory will serve abroad for the first time. Thus, a flexible and efficient utilization model that will contribute to the natural gas supply security of both our country and Egypt will be put into operation."
A New Page
Bayraktar stated that he sincerely believes that these steps will open a new page in Türkiye-Egypt energy relations and wished “I wish it to be beneficial for our countries.”
Ankara Tour with Togg
After the signing ceremony, Minister Bayraktar got behind the wheel of a red Togg T10X named Anadolu. He then took a short tour of Ankara with his guest Badawi.