The Salt Lake natural gas underground storage facility, the largest gas storage project in the world, is the greatest response to those uttering sanctions threats to Turkey in the east Mediterranean, Turkish energy minister has said.

“Turkey always has alternatives. The international legitimate rights of Turkey and the Turkish Cyprus can never be matters of negotiation. Our door is open to those wanting to do business with us,” Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez said on July 29, according to Hurriyet Daily News.

Dönmez’s remarks came at the groundbreaking ceremony of the second phase of the SaltLake Underground Storage Expansion Facility project. Turkish Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAŞ) awarded the design, supply and installation of the second phase to a joint venture between China’s Camc Engineering and Turkey’s IC İçtaş Construction. “The issue of the eastern Mediterranean does not only concern the relevant ministries. It is the issue of 82 million [citizens of Turkey],” Dönmez said.