Turkey, Turkmenistan Agree Gas Supply Deal for March

The deal, between Turkey’s state-owned pipeline operator BOTAS and Turkmenistan’s Turkmengaz, aims to begin gas flows on March 1, he said.

Turkey consumes more than 50 billion cubic metres of gas per year. It relies on a mix of piped gas from Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran, along with liquefied natural gas imports from various suppliers.

“With this agreement, which we have been working on for many years, we will further advance the strategic cooperation between the two countries while strengthening the natural gas supply security of our country and region,” Bayraktar said in a statement.

The minister had previously said Turkey could buy up to 2 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas annually from Turkmenistan, with the gas expected to be transported via Iran’s existing natural gas network.

A representative of the Turkmenistan government said that supplies of 2 bcm per year at the initial stage would be possible through Iran.

He also said that a separate project to build a gas pipeline across the Caspian Sea from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan and further to Turkey is being discussed as part of the long-term cooperation between the countries.

Specific details regarding the volume of gas to be supplied under the new agreement and the exact terms of transit through Iran were not disclosed.

Russia also seeks to boost its gas exports to Turkey. However, its plans to set up a gas hub in the country in order to offset the loss of the lucrative European gas market following its invasion of Ukraine, have not progressed so far.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said last month that Russia may supply up to 55 bcm of gas per year to Iran.

Source: HDN