Fatih Dönmez, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, accompanied by Aksaray Governor Hamza Aydoğdu and BOTAŞ General Manager Burhan Özcan, visited Tuz Gölü Underground Natural Gas Storage Expansion Project site and received information from the authorities.

Minister Dönmez said that the work in the Sakarya Gas Field, where natural gas was discovered, continue.

Dönmez said that they came to Aksaray to examine the Tuz Gölü Underground Natural Gas Storage Expansion Project on site.

“As of this season, we are starting the first injection into the remaining underground caverns”

Stating that BOTAŞ has initiated several projects to strengthen the natural gas infrastructure especially in recent years, Dönmez said:

“Some of these have already materialized. We have accelerated our work on underground natural gas storage. In this area which we are currently in, we previously had a natural gas storage project of 1.2 billion cubic meters. We held the first gas injection ceremony in 2017. As of this season, as of now, we are starting the first gas injection into all six caverns (artificial caves). I hope they will be full by next April. "

"Our target is to bring these projects into life until 2023"

Explaining that they increased the capacity of 1.2 billion cubic meters to 5.4 billion cubic meters, Dönmez said: On the other hand, we have another ongoing project in Silivri. In its present state, we have a storage capacity of approximately 3 billion cubic meters there as well. We will increase its capacity up to 4,5 million cubic meters too. Once these two projects are completed, we will have reached 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas storage capacity in Türkiye. Our goal is to implement these projects until 2023.

“When the project is completed, we will reach a natural gas storage capacity of 5.4 billion cubic meters"

Stating that they are implementing one of Türkiye’s biggest projects in Tuz Gölü, Dönmez said: When the project is completed, we will reach a natural gas storage capacity of 5.4 billion cubic meters. The budget of the project is around billion dollars. With this project, we are setting one of the most beautiful examples of protecting the environment. As known, Tuz Gölü is home to several birds, especially flamingos. Before this project started, the number of flamingos had decreased to almost 3 thousand, 3 thousand 500. After this project, the number of flamingos reached 25 thousands. This proves that our work is giving results. I would like to thank all of our authorities and officials who contributed to this work one by one, especially BOTAŞ General Manager. While we are carving out these caves for storage, we are bringing water from Kızılırmak from a distance of approximately 120 kilometers. We use water to dissolve salt caves. We discharge the salt dissolved in those caves into Tuz Gölü, which is about 30-40 kilometers away. In fact, we are witnessing the revival of the nature in Tuz Gölü.

Following his opening remarks of the " Tuz Gölü Habitat with Photos" Exhibition in the historical Sultanhanı Caravanserai, Minister Dönmez examined the photographs in the exhibition and received information from the authorities. Dönmez then cut the ribbon and opened the exhibition.

"We are working to prepare a good future for our youth"

Dönmez later visited Sultanhanı Atatürk Primary School and distributed tablets to the students. In his speech, Dönmez stated that BOTAŞ provides support for the education of students and distributed tablets to 100 students at the school.

Tarih: 3/11/2020