An estimated $2 million contract for studies on two liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals has been awarded to a venture of Belgium's Tractebel with the local Parmas by state pipeline and gas agency Botas. The venture submitted the lowest of two bids for the design contract in February (MEED 28:2:97; 10:1:97).

The terminals will be constructed at Aliaga, near Izmir, on the Aegean, and Iskenderun in the eastern Mediterranean. They will each have an initial capacity of 6,000 million cubic metres a year (mcm/y), with provision for expansion to 8,000 mcm/y. Construction schedules will be finalised on completion of the six-month studies.

The government has negotiated several agreements for LNG imports in order to meet increasing domestic demand projections for gas (MEED 30:5:97, Cover Story). Botas sources say the terminals will import LNG from countries including Egypt, Nigeria, Qatar, Malaysia and Yemen.