The number of projects that will turn Turkey into a natural gas bridge between East and West is increasing. Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Iraq, Iran, Russia and Israel all have a desire to transport natural gas to Europe viaTurkey.
Turkey itself is a major natural gas consumer with its annual demand of about 50 billion cubic meters. European countries that are committed to natural gas energy are frantically searching for alternative sources, mainly in the Middle East and the Caucasus, as alternatives to Russia. Producing countries are also searching for ways to reach European markets. In many of these projects, Turkey, with its bridge-like status between the Caucasus, the Middle East and Europe, is the best possible solution.