MOSCOW - Turkey has asked Gazprom to increase gas deliveries along the Western route via Ukraine, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz has told the Moscow press.
“Today we are on the threshold of the winter season when the need for gas increases during December, January and February. In some parts of Turkey the difference in gas consumption in summer and winter is 22 times,” he said.
“We are often asked whether the crisis in Ukraine will influence our situation in winter. We say that it won’t. Still we see a risk and certain difficulties may arise. As Turkey takes 12.5 percent of natural gas used for the production of electricity from the Western route via Bulgaria and Romania,” he added.
“As you know we are getting gas along two pipelines. The Blue Stream – there are no problems there. However, along the Western route the daily delivery today should be 42 million cubic meters but presently it is at 26-28 million cubic meters. I hope that Gazprom will compensate this volume in the nearest future. We have conveyed our request to them. So that at least the contract obligations would be carried out in full. And especially during the winter period in the framework of our strategic partnership in the sphere of natural gas we will render each other the necessary assistance,” Yildiz said.
A month ago, before deliveries were reduced Gazprom promised to deliver 30 billion cubic meters to Turkey this year. Commenting on the plans the minister said: “Gazprom is one of the biggest companies in the world. And if they made a commitment, I am sure they will definitely stand by it. They have the capability and the technical infrastructure for that. If Gazprom is capable of delivering 30 billion cubic meters, we are ready to accept and use it,” he said.
