PKK pipeline attacks sparks concern over Turkey’s energy security
In an attempt to target Turkey's strategic energy sector, the PKK has carried out six attacks on Turkey's oil and gas pipelines this year, prompting concern over energy security and rising violence in the southeast.
By Alakbar Raufoglu for SES Türkiye -- 03/08/12
In late July, the PKK claimed responsibility for an attack on the major Kirkuk-Ceyhan line, which carries approximately 300,000 barrels of oil per day from Iraq. That followed similar attacks on the Iran-Turkey gas line in June, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan in May, and three attacks on the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline between February and April.
-
![A gendarme officer stands guard overlooking a tanker anchored off the jetty at the Ceyhan crude oil terminal near Turkey's southern coastal city of Adana. [Reuters]](/shared/images/2012/08/03/ALAKBARphoto-310_213.jpg)
A gendarme officer stands guard overlooking a tanker anchored off the jetty at the Ceyhan crude oil terminal near Turkey's southern coastal city of Adana. [Reuters]
![A gendarme officer stands guard overlooking a tanker anchored off the jetty at the Ceyhan crude oil terminal near Turkey's southern coastal city of Adana. [Reuters]](/shared/images/2012/08/03/ALAKBARphoto-800_550.jpg)
Related Articles
Ankara said that attackers intend to target Turkish energy interests to create a new regional crisis.
"The terrorists must understand that no excuse or reason can justify attacking the energy pipelines. This is not a game and our security forces will take every single measure to stop them immediately," Mahmut Mucahit Findikli, parliament's Energy Committee chairman, told SES Türkiye.
But some PKK analysts, such as Gunes Murat Tezcur, an associate professor at Loyola University in Chicago, argue the damage caused by hit-and-run attacks is limited.
"Unless the PKK controls the territory where the pipelines are located, which is not possible, such attacks would not necessarily pose a very strong threat to Turkey's energy security," he told SES Türkiye.
July's attack came as Ankara's relationship with the government in Baghdad is in decline and a budding energy relationship is developing between Turkey and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq.
Turkey and the KRG are discussing building a pipeline that bypasses the Iraqi authorities, but Tezcur says this is "very unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future given the risks and complexity of the issue."
Noting that the PKK has bases in northern Iraq, Hasan Selim Ozertem, a terrorism and energy analyst at the International Strategic Research Organization in Ankara, said authorities in Iraq also need to work with Turkey to eliminate the PKK and create a safer passage of Iraqi oil to Turkey.
"The situation in Syria should be followed carefully," he said. "[Syrian President Bashar] al- Assad supports the PKK against Turkey and the PKK started to gain bases in the Syrian border of Turkey."
"All in all, security can be provided for pipelines by a mixture of diplomatic efforts, intelligence sharing and also the measures taken by Turkey and its neighbors," he said.
Sinan Ulgen, chairman of the Istanbul-based Center for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies, said the pipeline security issue is an extension of Turkey's overall security challenges related to the PKK and the Kurdish question.
"The clear lesson that can be drawn from [the pipeline attacks] is that as long as Turkey has not been able to address its own Kurdish issue, the dispute has the potential to degenerate into a multi-dimensional security challenge, especially in the view of the latest developments in Syria," he told SES Türkiye.
"This should give a sense of urgency to Turkish policymakers to tackle the Kurdish issue more constructively, overcoming their populist proclivities," he said.
What do you think of this article? (Total Votes )
22 Like(s)
6 Dislike(s)
-
Let it not be AKP.
-
Mr.Tayyip should prevent his individual lash outs. The ones around him should leave butter him up too. He should have exchange of ideas with all parties on national matters. Although ‘one single man’ mentality first seems profitable for the country, it brings big losses in the long run. He should not underestimate anybody. His delivery the titbits-tenders always to his nearby, is also contrary to the Islamic justice which he says he believes in. Othe opposite side has 50% votes as well. He should not open old periods either. There is no such thing in Islam to burden the son for his father’s blame. Like Ozal, he should say that “It’s opposition, they talk and criticise.” and be tolerant. When Prophet conquered Mecca, he said “The ones who enter into the house of Abu-Sufia are in safe.” and honoured them. In other words, he should not play the role of “one man” which Sacred Prophet did not apply. Of course, because nobody warnes him in front and he can not see the mistakes. In green card application, I’ve told them to take 20% for the beginning, they did not. PKK mentality consumed the budget within 5 months. The medicines went to the waste, to the river Nile-Fırat by trailers. There was only Abdullah Gül warning him and he became the president. As a person who previously worked for the same party for a long time, I do not approve the course of events much.
-
In AKP period, Turkey was tidied, reached prosperity, we’ve comfortably gone to our workplaces, they gave us a secure future. At least, these men are afraid of Allah. Well, what could we do if Bahceli or Kilicdaroglu was in power? Allah forbid! May Allah be his lover and helper, may Allah keep Tayyip Erdogan always on our head.
-
We, Kurds are resisting for freedom. We want to live well and we don’t want such things to happen. In the end, it is always us who have to suffer. We, as Kurdish people will always resist and we want a world without war.
-
So to say, he was going to his work comfortably, placing reliance. May God rehabilitate you.
-
Turkey’s only friend if Allah. People of various origins – Laz, Circassian, Zaza, Turkish, Kurdish – have lived here as brothers for thousands of years and they will remain brothers. Turkey is the name of our homeland. The PKK is officially a US-Israeli dog. They are deceiving our Kurdish citizens. May Allah be with the right ones. Ungratefulness is not a good behavior for people. No matter what happens, Turks and Kurds are brothers. We shall be awake and do not fall into the traps of the devil.
-
What a relationship! OK, we’re brothers but why is it not being solved? Why? Is there anything that can not be solved, I wonder? It suits ignobles’ books, it serves AKP too.
-
All the world knows that Kurds are the grandsons of Selahattin Eyubi, Bediul Zaman and are Sunni Islam. Only Ankara, Tehran, Baghdat and Damascus don’t know that we are circumcised.
We welcome your comments on SES Türkiye's articles
It is our hope that you will use this forum to interact with other readers across Southeast Europe. In order to keep this experience interesting, we ask you to follow the rules outlined in the comments policy. By submitting comments, you are consenting to these rules. While SES Türkiye encourages discussion on all subjects, including sensitive ones, the comments posted are solely the views of those submitting them. SES Türkiye does not necessarily endorse or agree with the ideas, views, or opinions voiced in these comments. SES Türkiye welcomes constructive discussion but discourages the use of copy-pasted materials, unaccompanied links and one-line slogans. This is a moderated forum. Comments deemed abusive, offensive, or those containing profanity may not be published.
SES Türkiye's Comments Policy