Gazprom limits supplies to private Turkish importers

In extreme aggravation of relations between Russia and Turkey a new occasion for mutual claims has appeared. The price conflict of Gazprom with private Turkish gas consumers led to the fact that the Russian company started to restrict the supply. According to the Kommersant’s information, Gazprom may find the position of partners vulnerable: it is almost impossible for private importers in Turkey to find a replacement for Russian gas. The Turks may have to make concessions, but in the long term, the robust approach of Gazprom could weaken its position, as has already happened on the markets of the Ukraine and the Baltic states.

From the beginning of February, the deliveries via the Trans-Balkan pipeline, through which Russian gas enters in western Turkey, dropped by 23% as compared to last year, the data of the Bulgarian gas transmission operator Bulgartransgaz shows. According to a source of the Interfax, close to the Turkish Ministry of Energy, the fall is connected with the fact that Gazprom limits the supply to private Turkish importers. The Kommersant’s interlocutors, close to Gazprom, confirmed that the deliveries were reduced because of a dispute over the price of gas. Last year, Gazprom provided a discount of 10.25% to the private importers in Turkey, but now wants to cancel it, as the price of gas dropped significantly.