BOTAŞ Petroleum Pipeline Corporation

“Iranian natural gas flows to Turkey were halted after an explosion and could take up to a week to resume after repairs are completed, officials at the Turkish pipeline operator Botas said on Wednesday. It was the second time in a little over a month that an explosion halted gas imports from Iran on the key link.” (Reuters, Iran-Turkey gas pipeline hit by blast, flow stopped, Aug. 25th 2010) (http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFLDE67O0J920100825)

“BOTAŞ was established on August 15, 1974 by The Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) under Decree No 7/7871, for the purpose of transporting Iraqi crude oil to the Ceyhan (Yumurtalık) Marine Terminal, in accordance with the Iraq-Turkey Crude Oil Pipeline Agreement signed on August 27, 1973 between the Governments of the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Iraq. Because of Turkey’s increasing need for diversified energy sources, since 1987 BOTAŞ has expanded its original purpose of transporting crude oil through pipelines to cover natural gas transportation and trade activities, therefore becoming a trading company.” (Botas Website) (http://www.botas.gov.tr/index.asp)