Turkey’s energy minister says the country’s gas import contract with Iran will expire in July and no extension talks are under way yet. He said Ankara may still need Iranian gas for supply security and is also seeking to diversify imports.
ANKARA: Turkey’s long-term agreement to import natural gas from Iran is set to expire in the coming months, with no formal negotiations under way yet on extending the arrangement, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Saturday.
The contract is due to end in July and covers the supply of 9.6 billion cubic metres of gas annually. However, actual deliveries have frequently remained below that level. According to regulator data cited in the report, Turkey imported 7.6 bcm of gas from Iran last year, which made up 13% of the country’s total gas imports. The same data showed the pipeline last reached the contracted volume in 2022.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a diplomacy forum in Antalya, Bayraktar said Turkey could still require Iranian gas for its energy needs.
According to our forecast, we might need this gas pipeline or the gas flow from Iran for the security of supply of Turkey. There is no ongoing negotiation right now. I think they are busy with so many other things. But we might sit and discuss a potential extension,
Bayraktar said.
He added that talks had not begun because of the current regional situation.
But we haven’t started a negotiation during the current circumstances in the region,
Bayraktar said, referring to the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Supply diversification plans
Bayraktar also said Turkey was working to broaden its natural gas supply options, including through Russian liquefied natural gas.
Local media reported earlier this month that Ankara had granted a long-term licence for LNG imports from Russia to pipeline operator BOTAS. Regulator records showed BOTAS received a 10-year import licence. According to the report, such licences have so far only been issued for countries with which Turkey has long-term LNG supply contracts, including Algeria and Oman.
When asked about LNG imports, Bayraktar said Turkey had not yet started importing LNG from Russia.
Turkey already receives Russian gas through the BlueStream and TurkStream pipelines. Together, those two routes account for about 35% of the country’s overall gas mix, according to the report.
The minister’s remarks came as Ankara weighs its future energy supply needs while its existing gas agreement with Iran approaches expiry. Although the contract allows for substantial annual volumes, import levels have not consistently matched the agreed amount in recent years.
Bayraktar’s comments indicated that while an extension remains possible, no active process has started between the two sides so far. He linked the absence of talks to the broader regional environment and said discussions could take place later if needed.
