Minister signals extra time for Russian gas

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Turkey will not face cuts in gas inflows from Russia, according to Energy Minister Taner Yıldız. Some 26 companies are waiting for licences to export Russian gas. AA photo

Turkey will grant extra time to energy companies that want to buy Russian gas via West Line, a total of 4 billion cubic meters, according to Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yıldız.

“If there’s a need to extend the time allocated for firms to complete application documents, additional time would be given,” Yıldız said at the World Energy Outlook meeting in Istanbul.

Austria’s OMV and Turkey’s Aygaz, Aksa, Demirören and Turcas are among the 26 applicant companies for the transfer tender of West Line.

The minister said, “Turkey will have no problems in licensing the line. It is a fact the natural gas will continue to flow through West Line to Turkey one way or another.”

Turkey’s state-run pipeline company cancelled a 6 billion cubic meter deal with Russia’s Gazprom in September, calling the free market players to replace it.

The Gazprom-Botaş deal will expire on the first day of next year.