Swiss Energy Minister suggests electricity trades with Turkey

Turkey and Switzerland could do energy trades to address power shortfalls in both countries, suggested visiting Swiss Environment and Energy Minister Dorris Leuthard yesterday. Citing Turkey's recent record energy consumption, Leuthard told Energy Minister Taner Yildiz, "Consumption is (also) rising in Switzerland due to the climate. To address this, we could carry out mutual electricity trades. We could sell electricity to you in summer, when consumption increases (in Turkey), and buy electricity from you in the winter." Leuthard said that Switzerland decided to give up nuclear energy following the explosion earlier this year at the Fukushima Power Plant in Japan, adding, "We have to make up the difference through various methods. That's why we want to work with Turkey, particularly concerning new energy resources in order to ensure the security of supplies." Officials said that Turkey and Europe are integrating their electricity lines as next month, making such trades technically possible. Yildiz said that falling oil prices due to economic turmoil in Europe and the US might continue, adding, "But rising foreign exchange rates means there won't be savings on fuel prices. When both exchange rates and oil prices fall, we may see savings."