NEW YORK (Realist English). Turkey is preparing to finalize a $43bn liquefied natural gas (LNG) purchase agreement with the United States, Turkish business daily Ekonomi reported. The deal is expected to be announced in Washington on September 25.
According to columnist Vahap Munyar, the agreement would cover LNG imports through 2045, with average annual payments of $2.15bn. Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said the deal would bolster Ankara’s long-term energy security.
Bayraktar, speaking on the sidelines of the 17th Turkey Investment Conference in New York, also revealed that Turkey is conducting joint exploration with the US in four fields in Diyarbakir province and is considering energy cooperation in third countries.
The LNG accord is expected to become a cornerstone in advancing the $100bn trade volume target set by both governments. Over the 20-year horizon, LNG imports are projected to be one of the largest items in bilateral trade.
The conference, organised by the Turkey-US Business Council (TAIK), coincided with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to the United Nations General Assembly. Erdogan will meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on September 25. Turkey’s main opposition has accused the president of securing the meeting by approving a deal to purchase 300 Boeing aircraft.
The event also brought together senior executives from leading global companies, including Mastercard, JP Morgan, Uber, Ford, Boeing, Amazon, Lockheed Martin, Citi Group, GE, Carrier, IBM, Netflix, Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.
