Turkey wants to renew gas agreement with Russia: minister

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey wants to renew the bilateral gas agreement with Russia rather than requesting a discount in the existing deals, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak has said, according to Hurriyet Daily News.

“Gazprom and Turkey’s BOTAŞ have still been discussing the deals. As far as I know, Turkey wants to renew the existing gas deal with Russia upon a new principle of price setting, rather than asking for a gas discount upon the existing principle. Gazprom will decide on this idea soon,” he said in an interview prior to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Turkey due Dec 1.

Turkey hopes to receive a discount on gas prices, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yıldız said earlier in Moscow.

The results of the talks between Gazprom and BOTAŞ are expected to be announced during Putin’s visit.

Novak said the recent sanctions against Russia will not affect Turkey’s first nuclear plant, which is being built by Russian Rosatom.

“The Akkuyu nuclear power plant project constitutes one of the building stones of the economic relations between the two countries. A new industrial sector has been born in Turkey. The project will be completed in line with the schedule” he said.