Doha: The Qatar-Trkiye-Europe gas pipeline project is being evaluated as a potential alternative for transporting energy resources, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. However, it is regarded as both costly and risky, as reported by Aydinlik newspaper.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the proposal to transport gas to Europe through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, and Trkiye was initially introduced by Qatar in 2000. The project was later put on hold in 2009. With the shifting geopolitical landscape in the Middle East, especially in Syria, discussions have resurfaced to reconsider the project's feasibility.

The report mentions that Trkiye's Minister of Energy, Alparslan Bayraktar, is set to visit Qatar soon to discuss the potential revival of the project. Currently, Europe imports around 100 million cubic meters of natural gas daily from Russia, with an additional 40 million cubic meters transported via the Strait of Hormuz. Expert evaluations suggest that the Qatar-Trkiye-Europe pipeline could potentially supply up to 100 million cubic meters of gas per day. Nevertheless, a significant concern remains the high expense of the gas and the infrastructure itself.

The newspaper highlights that European countries currently pay approximately $5 per cubic meter for natural gas from Russia, whereas gas transported through the Strait of Hormuz costs $8. Expert calculations indicate that if the gas were supplied through the Qatar-Trkiye-Europe pipeline, the price could rise above $12 per cubic meter.

The proposed pipeline is anticipated to span about 4,000 kilometers, crossing areas marked by geopolitical conflicts, which presents a considerable risk factor. The construction costs for the project are estimated to exceed $20 billion.