Energy-hungry Turkey expects more Chinese investment: official

Turkey expects more Chinese investment to help it meet a huge energy demand at home, Murat Mercan, chairman of the World Energy Council's Turkish National Committee, said here on Monday.

"Turkey needs at least 70 billion dollars in energy investment to meet its huge demand including nuclear power plants, rehabilitation of current existing systems," Mercan told Xinhua in an interview before departing for Beijing for the launch of the 2016 World Energy Issues Monitor report.

He described Turkey as a country with unique geopolitical location and growth potentials that offers a lot of good opportunities in the field of energy, in which "Chinese companies are very resourceful investors."

As a country short of oil and gas reserves, Turkey relies heavily on imports and is building nuclear power plants as an alternative.

Under China's Belt and Road initiative, greater cooperation on energy is being sought with dozens of countries bordering the routes, which include Turkey.

Mercan extended his invitation for Chinese companies to Turkey for the 23rd World Energy Congress slated for Oct. 9-13 in Istanbul.

The congress, a triennial event, has emerged as a premier global forum for leaders and thinkers to debate solutions to energy issues. It also provides an opportunity for executives to display their technologies and explore business opportunities.

"I highly recommend them to come to this congress to establish and improve their networking and business ties with Turkey and have a chance to invest in Turkey and neighboring countries," said Mercan. Endit