A recent study carried out by the Ankara-based International Strategic Research Organization (USAK) has concluded that Turkey needs to establish an agency dedicated to maintaining the security of its energy infrastructure because the country is now becoming a critical energy corridor.

The think tank's Center for Energy Security Studies (CESS) has carried out a comprehensive study, involving a series of workshops and field studies to determine the current situation regarding the security of what they called critical energy infrastructure components (CEIC) in Turkey. With a goal of raising awareness of energy infrastructure security as well as offering solutions for major challenges, USAK shared the results of their study in Ankara.

USAK President Özdem Sanberk and Energy and Natural Resources Undersecretary Metin Kilci also participated in the conference. The key issue in the roadmap the report offers for policymakers -- aside from such factors as reliable construction of energy infrastructure -- is the foundation of a professional security agency. "In Turkey there is no existing regulation that distributes responsibility between institutions for providing CEIC security," the report reads. Noting that domestic distribution and trans-boundary oil and natural gas pipeline networks in Turkey span a total area of about 20,000 kilometers, the report stressed the importance of security from a geopolitical perspective. The report cites terrorism, theft, violations of agreements and accidents as the major threats to energy infrastructure in Turkey and suggests that the government have emergency plans and facilitate healthy local and international intelligence and information sharing to strengthen its position in this regard. The report says international cooperation with surrounding countries and such bodies as NATO, EU and OSCE is of the utmost importance. The USAK report stresses that establishing a healthy legal framework is of key importance to sustain energy security in Turkey. The report indicates that regularly updated risk maps, the creation of professional security force and raising social awareness must all be achieved. "It is also essential that the public and private sector join powers to cover the costs for security measures," it adds. With 12 different authors contributing, the report is the final product of interviews with 30 energy experts, four workshops and an international conference organized in June 2011.