Turkey to sign LNG deal with Qatargas

Turkey expects to sign an agreement for 2.5 to 3 billion cubic metres (bcm) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar, though no agreement was made on price, Turkey's energy minister said.

"We would like to make two agreements with Qatar: one short-term and one long-term. If we can agree on the price, we will make an agreement through Bota," Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz told a news conference in the Qatari capital.

Bota is Turkey's state-owned crude and natural gas pipelines and trading company.

"Some of Turkey's natural gas needs will be filled by Qatar. We don't only want to talk to one country. We have also talked to Saudi Arabia and Libya," he said.

Yildiz said a preliminary agreement between Bota and Qatari LNG supplier Qatargas would be signed.

In November Turkey's finance minister said the country is interested in a setting up an LNG plant Turkey in order to facilitate the delivery of gas from Qatar to Europe.

Qatar is the world's largest LNG exporter but mainly sells to Asian markets.