Turkey asks Gazprom to increase gas supply by 3 BCM a year, supply route being discussed
ISTANBUL. Dec 3 (Interfax) - Turkey has asked Russia to increase gas supplies under the existing contract by 3 billion cubic meters a year, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak has told reporters in Istanbul.
"Turkey has requested an additional 3 billion cubic meters per year," he said.
Choosing an optimal route for the increased supply is important, he said.
"There are two options here: either expanding the Blue Stream capacity, and Gazprom will the look into technical opportunities for the increase, or using the South Stream, in other words, the project will envisage a supply increase through a backup corridor," the minister explained.
The issue is only just being discussed with no decisions made so far, he said.
Turkey's gas market has been steadily growing. The country is currently importing more Russian gas than Italy and is Russia's second largest gas importer. In 2011, Turkey imported 26 billion cubic meters of Russian gas, according to Gazprom.