Turkey and Turkmenistan signed an agreement to facilitate the transportation of Turkmenistan's gas to Türkiye, marking an important step forward in energy cooperation between the two countries, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar informed.
The new gas deal was signed between Turkey's state pipeline operator BOTAS and Turkmenistan's Turkmengaz company to start gas transit from March 1.
Turkey consumes more than 50 billion cubic meters of gas per year. This supply includes gas from Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran, along with liquefied natural gas imported from various suppliers.
"With the agreement that we have strived to implement over the years, we will further promote strategic cooperation between the two countries while enhancing the security of gas supply to the country and the region," Minister Alparslan Bayraktar affirmed.
Turkey's energy minister has previously said the country could buy up to 2 billion cubic meters of gas per year from Turkmenistan, and the gas is expected to be transported through Iran's existing gas network.
A representative of the Turkmen government confirmed that the initial supply of 2 billion cubic meters of gas per year could be transported through Iran.
He also said that an independent project on the construction of a gas pipeline from Turkmenistan across the Caspi Sea to Azerbaijan and to Türkiye is being discussed within the framework of cooperation between the two countries.
Details about the amount of gas supplied under the new agreement and specific terms for gas transit through Iran were not disclosed.
Russia also wants to increase gas exports to Turkey. However, plans to establish a gas hub in Turkey to compensate for Russia's loss of the European gas market after the conflict in Ukraine have yet to progress.
Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia could supply up to 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year to Iran.
