Türkiye’s state-owned pipeline company BOTAŞ has signed a 20-year liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply agreement with global energy firm Mercuria, alongside a preliminary deal with Woodside Energy, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced Tuesday.

The agreements were signed during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s engagements at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, underscoring Türkiye’s growing role in the global energy sector.

The Mercuria pact, inked by BOTAŞ General Manager Abdulvahit Fidan and Mercuria President Daniel Jaeggi at the Turkish House, guarantees the supply of approximately 70 billion cubic meters of US-sourced LNG from 2026 to 2045.

Bayraktar highlighted the scale of the agreement:  “Today, we have signed an agreement that will enable the supply of approximately 70 billion cubic meters of natural gas equivalent in US-sourced LNG over the next 20 years. We believe the partnership with Mercuria will help BOTAŞ gain a strong position in the global LNG arena. This deal will also significantly contribute to reaching the $100 billion trade volume target with the United States.”

Under the terms of the contract, BOTAŞ will receive around 4 billion cubic meters annually, primarily during winter months. Deliveries can occur at US loading ports or regasification terminals in Türkiye, Europe, and North Africa, providing flexibility in global distribution.

Separately, BOTAŞ reached a heads of agreement with Woodside Energy for long-term LNG supply, covering approximately 5.8 billion cubic meters over nine years starting in 2030, mainly sourced from the Louisiana LNG Project.

“We are witnessing an agreement that establishes a transcontinental link between BOTAŞ and Woodside. We believe this will mark the start of a successful partnership. The companies have already expressed intent to expand beyond the proposed LNG sales and build strategic cooperation across a wider region. We strongly support this vision,” Bayraktar emphasize.

These agreements strengthen Türkiye’s position in the global LNG market while reinforcing energy security and creating opportunities for transcontinental energy cooperation. Analysts note that the deals align with Türkiye’s broader goal of becoming a regional energy hub, enhancing its influence in European, African, and Middle Eastern energy markets. (ILKHA)