Gazprom reduces gas export to Turkish companies ‘without official explanation’

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

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Russia’s Gazprom has unilaterally decided to hike the price of gas sold to Turkish private companies and reduced export volumes without an official explanation, a private Turkish importer said on March 1.

Enerco said the gas flow started to be reduced on Feb. 24 without any official explanation, and stressed that this reduction is against the law. 

“All importer companies, including us, agreed to revise the gas price with Gazprom Export in April 2015. Through this move, the contract price was cut. This was a permanent, not a temporary, revision. So no parties have the right to change or cancel this without approval from the other party. Gazprom Export asked for a price revision at the end of last year. Our contract allows such demands, but these demands must be negotiated, agreed reciprocally, or taken to arbitration as a last resort. Our talks started in a positive mode,” the company noted, adding that there is no unpaid debt owed by the company to Gazprom Export. 

“There is no unclear element here as the contract is clear. According to the contract, no party can change the contract price unilaterally. We feel deep sorrow about such moves,” it also stated. 

Gazprom reduced gas supplies to Turkey in February. Sources then said the Turkish private sector and Gazprom were in talks over the future of a 10.25 percent price discount, but the Russian side recently canceled this discount unilaterally. 

Gazprom Export said on Feb. 25 it is continuing negotiations with gas consumers in Turkey and aims to maintain stable contractual relations, according to TASS News Agency.