Turkey’s largest natural gas provider, Russia, has warned state owned Turkish Pipeline Company (BOTAS) to refrain from demanding more gas than the amount specified in the supply contract between the two countries, according to officials of Turkish Ministry of Energy, leaving Turkey with the threat of a serious natural gas crisis this winter. Officials from the energy sector attribute Russia’s attitude to the recently signed memorandum of understanding that Turkey signed with Iran for transportation of Iranian gas to Europe.

Rapprochement with Iran may cause troubles for Turkey, including impacting whether Russia will supply additional natural gas in times of emergency, as it had agreed to do in the past.

More than six million residences in Turkey consume gas for heating and about half of Turkey’s electricity production is managed with natural gas.

Former president of BOTAS Gokhan Yardim said that Turkey should keep its relations with Russia intact. He said, “While the relations with Iran should also be good, this country has a history of not fulfilling its promises”.

Source: Zaman, Turkey, August 3, 2007