From February 10, 2016 Gazprom company has significantly reduced gas supplies to Turkey, according to Bulgartransgas, which ensures about half of Russian gas supplies to the republic via the western route (the remaining is ensured by Blue Stream pipeline).
The gas supplies in the western direction were significantly reduced by 10% since February 10. Then the gap was increased and last week it reached 50%. By February 24, Russian gas export to the west of Turkey totaled 26.7 mcm, down 40% against the same period last year.
One of the reasons of reduction of demand is weather conditions: temperature in Istanbul went up to19 degrees Celsius on February 15 and 16.
However, weather is not the main factor affecting the supplies. A source close to the Turkish Energy Ministry told Interfax: “The problem is that Russia reduced gas export to the Turkish private companies. As we know, the companies argue with Gasprom about price.”
In 2015 Gazprom exported 27 bcm of gas to Turkey against 27.33 bcm in 2014.
