USAK "Critical Energy Infrastructure Security Project" Final Report Presentation Concluded

Date: 08.02.2012

The final report of the “Critical Energy Infrastructure Security Project” that was commissioned by the USAK Center for Energy Security has been presented at JW Marriott Ankara Hotel, on 7 February 2012. USAK Director, R. Ambassador Özdem Sanberk and Undersecretary of the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry Metin Kilci stressed the importance of energy security in their keynote speeches.

Indicating that energy security was among the important issues of the Global Security Conference held the previous week, R. Ambassador Özdem Sanberk underlined the necessity of understanding the importance of energy security especially during these cold winter days.

Undersecretary of the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry Metin Kilci started his speech by addressing the important role played by think tanks like USAK between the academic, state and business worlds. Then, he expressed how important Turkey’s position between countries that produce energy and the European markets, illustrating how critical energy infrastructure security is an important tool in shaping Turkish policy. He concluded his remarks by adding that legal regulations will be made in order to prevent oil and gas theft from pipelines and that he believes the Critical Energy Infrastructure Security Project will serve a good purpose.

After the keynote speeches, head of the USAK Science Committee Prof. Dr. İhsan Bal and Assistant Prof. Dr. Pınar İpek from Bilkent University presented the main elements of the report. After referring to the dynamism of the Critical Energy Infrastructure Security Project, Dr. İhsan Bal gave the floor to Dr. Pınar İpek. Dealing with issues regarding the economy, security and environment, Dr. İpek explained that because of the important geostrategic location of Turkey, the matter becomes more important. She continued her speech mentioning the importance of obtaining energy with reasonable prices, in a secure way and without harming the environment.

In the second session of the conference, Prof. Dr. İbrahim Kaya, Assoc. Dr. Mitat Çelikpala and researchers from USAK Arzu Celalifer Ekinci and Hasan Selim Özertem reviewed the report and its political and legal dimensions. Dr. Kaya explained that the legal dimension of the report is divided into three parts: The regulations regarding energy security in international law and the agreements Turkey did or did not sign are discussed in the first; the arrangements for the safety of infrastructure facilities around the world, for example in the U.S. and Canada, are discussed in the second; and the arrangements for the security of energy infrastructure in Turkey are discussed in the third.

Assoc. Prof. Mitat Çelikpala from Kadir Has University began his speech by pointing out the perception of energy security. Dr. Çelikpala indicated Turkey’s aim to be a regional energy center. He continued discussing the possible problems of being a consumer but not producer of energy. Then, he underlined that Turkish foreign, security and energy policies have been combined in recent years. Additionally, he mentioned that energy security policies should be formulated through cooperation. In this respect, he emphasizes the European Union (EU), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) critical role in cooperating in energy security policies. Prof. Çelikpala gave the floor to researcher at the USAK Center for Energy Security Studies Dr. Arzu Celalifer Ekinci.

Dr. Ekinci began her conversation by describing the meaning of critical infrastructure. Then, she stated there are many important regulations regarding this issue in developed countries like the U.S. She indicated that governments have to face more threats because of developing technology. In this regard, she added that the security of critical energy infrastructure evolved after the events of September 11, 2001 in the U.S. She continued with the case of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom has extensive regulations on critical energy infrastructure security and cooperation between the public and private sectors, as in the U.S. After having emphasized the necessity of cooperation between actors, she indicated that Turkey should further this cooperation to develop efficient energy politics. Finally, Dr. Ekinci gave the floor to Hasan Selim Özertem, researcher at the USAK Center for Energy Security Studies.

Mr. Özertem first informed participants regarding the current and possible pipelines of Turkey. He continued by describing threats to pipelines like terrorist attacks, robbery, violations and cyber threats. To secure the pipelines, Turkey has some legal regulations. However, as Mr. Özertem specified, these could not prevent Turkey from losing $30 billion between 2003 and 2008. Finally, he statedthat Turkey needs to develop new energy policies and expand current ones.

The conference came to an end after a question and answer session.