Turkey starts oil purchase talks with Saudi – Energy Minister

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey has begun talks with Saudi Arabia on long-term crude oil purchases, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said on Tuesday, June 12 after the United States said it would exempt Turkey from financial sanctions because it cut purchases of Iranian oil, Reuters reported.

Yildiz said the talks were in line with Turkey's main energy target to increase the number of countries from which Turkey imports crude oil.

"Talks with Saudi Arabia on long-term crude oil purchases have started. This doesn't concern only Tupras but also concerns Saudi Arabia's Aramco. Talks are still going on; they will discuss the quantities between them," Yildiz told reporters.

Asked whether the Saudi oil would be as cheap as Iranian oil, Yildiz said Turkish refiner Tupras would compare crude oil prices and take the decision itself.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Monday the U.S. would exempt India, South Korea, Turkey and four other countries from financial sanctions because they have significantly cut purchases of Iranian oil.

"We aim to increase the number of countries where we buy natural gas from five to seven or eight and the number of countries where we buy crude oil to 14, if possible, from 11. We determined Libya as the 12th country. Tupras has made connections to buy around 1.1023 million tons (of oil)," Yildiz said.

At the end of March, the minister said Turkey would diversify its oil supplies, and the first shipment of crude under a Libyan term contract deal arrived in February.

"The United States decision doesn't have a legal binding force, but they are our strategic partners. The priority will be on meeting Turkey's growing energy needs promptly and from resources as cheap possible," Yildiz said.