World Bulletin / News Desk

The world’s energy authorities will focus on Turkey while following recent issues on energy economics, said the new head of an international energy association.

Newly selected president of the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE) Gurkan Kumbaroglu pointed out the importance of being selected as a Turkish president.

“It is an opportunity that world’s leading analysts will focus on and discuss Turkey in terms of energy economics. These studies have already been made in our association but when the president is from Turkey, the spotlight will be more on our country.” he said.

Kumbaroglu was elected as president of the energy association last week by 4500 members in 100 countries through an Internet vote.

“During my presidency, Turkey will take more part in the association’s events. I will give speeches in every event and will keep in touch with ranking energy authorities.” Kumbaroglu told Anadolu Agency. “Thus, (…) studies on Turkey will speed up.”

An international non-profit professional organization based in the United States, the association was founded in 1977 in response to the 1970's energy crisis in order to provide expertise and debate on energy economics, it states on its website.

Kumbaroglu said that the association could also be perceived as a global lobby group. He described its mission as the building of a strong relationship between all energy-oriented parties and to create healthy decisions.

With the association’s studies, the perception of Turkey’s potential for being a global energy terminal will be more sophisticatedly studied, Kumbaroglu said.

“Antalya will host the 38th global event of the International Association for Energy Economics,” he said, adding that Nobel-prize winning scientists, former energy ministers, bureaucrats and private sector representatives were among the association’s members.