Turkey says no problem over gas exports to Greece
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey's natural gas exports to Greece are continuing and do not present problems, Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler said on Thursday as a price row between Russia and Ukraine was choking supplies to Europe.
He also said he believed it was possible for Russian gas flows to Europe to be restarted before the talks on resolving the dispute were completed.
An energy ministry source had told Reuters on Wednesday that Turkey's natural gas exports to Greece were below the contract level and pressure in the pipeline was low.
Guler confirmed that this was the case but said that supplies were getting through.
"Gas supplies to Greece via Turkey are continuing, there is no problem with that," Guler said.
According to energy ministry officials, Greece is receiving only slightly less than normal and Athens understands that Turkey is itself getting less than it should.
Ankara has rejected a request from Athens for additional gas.
Russian gas continues to be cut off to Greece, with the country covering demand from local reserves of liquefied natural gas as well as from some Azeri gas delivered via Turkey, said an official of Hellenic Gas Co. (DEPA), which is responsible for the import, transport, and storage of natural gas in Greece.
"All of Greece's domestic gas demand is being covered mostly from LNG reserves in Greece, with some Azeri coming from Turkey," the DEPA official, who declined to be named, said.
"We are not relying on supplies from Turkey, so at the moment we don't have any problem supplying our customers. We foresee no problems for Greece as we are continually topping up LNG reserves. We will see what happens with negotiations between Russia and the EU, and if the problem is not solved, we will buy more off the market," the official said.
Russian gas supplies via Ukraine to a number of European countries from Turkey to France stopped on Tuesday as sub-zero temperatures increased demand for winter fuel.
Urgent negotiations are under way to bring gas supplies back to normal levels from Russia to Europe. Among the topics is a proposal for an independent monitoring system.
"We are part of these negotiations. An attitude has emerged to ensure gas supplies first and then continue with the price negotiations," Guler said.
Turkey and some European countries are talking with both Russia and Ukraine on re-opening of Russia's western pipeline, he said.
Turkey was better placed than other countries regarding gas supplies due to its energy architecture, the minister said.
Another pipeline passing under the Black Sea delivers gas to Turkey directly from Russia. Turkey also buys gas from its neighbor Iran through one pipeline, purchases the fuel from Azerbaijan through a pipeline via Georgia, and receives liquefied natural gas from other countries. (Additional reporting by George Hatzidakis in Athens, writing by Selcuk Gokoluk, editing by Anthony Barker)
