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Turkey extends LNG contracts with suppliers, no mention of Russia

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
10 Oct 2022 10:40
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Turkey, refusing to sanction Russia or sever its ties, is facing growing energy consumption.

An LNG Tanker in Turkish waters.

Turkey has extended existing contracts with gas suppliers and signed new contracts for deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to prepare for an energy crisis, Turkish broadcaster Oda TV reported, citing energy ministry sources.

The broadcaster did not specify which suppliers had their contracts extended - or, whether Russia was among them.

In the meantime, media outlets reported last week that Turkey's underground gas storage facilities Tuz Golu and Silivri had been filled at full capacity.

Within this context, energy consumption in the country has increased from 92 million to 362 million cubic meters, according to Oda TV.

Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez has paid special attention to international meetings on energy matters in recent months, in addition to having taken measures and initiating international cooperation, according to the outlet.

More importantly, Moscow is a fundamental gas supplier to Turkey.

Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported that Ankara has requested Russia to defer a fraction of Turkey's gas payments until 2024, giving way for the sanctioned country to mend the economic damage caused by Western sanctions against Moscow.

However, a Turkish source told Sputnik that Turkey and Russia were discussing Russian gas prices, and not the postponement of payments - there were no problems regarding that matter, according to the source.

In late August, Turkey's business community faced mounting US pressure to sever its growing ties with Russia or risk crushing sanctions as the US grew more concerned that Russian enterprises and the government are using Turkey to get over banking and trade sanctions imposed by the collective West against Russian following the Ukraine war.

At a Sochi conference earlier in August, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan decided to expand their economic cooperation. In accordance with that cooperation, official statistics show that Turkish exports to Russia increased in value from May to July of last year by about 50%.