Iran’s flow of gas to Turkey has increased after a major reduction reported last month as industry sources say full supplies will be restored in early spring when Iran is planned to carry out repairs on export pipelines on its side of the border.
Turkish natural gas sector sources told local newspaper Daily Sabah on Wednesday that the amount of gas supplies from Iran had been increased to around 50% of levels guaranteed under a contract between the two countries.
That comes as supplies had dropped to around 20% of the contractual levels last month after technical problems affected pipelines and pressure facilities on the Iranian side of the border.
The cut forced Turkey to reduce gas supplies to power plants and factories by as much as 40%.
Turkey’s state-run energy company Botas had said on Friday that Iran would gradually increase its gas supplies to Turkey as it vowed that cuts ordered to major consumers will reduce to 20%.
However, industry sources told Daily Sabah that repair works on pipelines in Iran have been postponed to early spring as they suggested that full supplies from Iran will not be restored at least until that time.
Turkey relies on Iran for some 16% of its natural gas demand under a 25-year contract that runs out in 2025.
The country also imports huge amounts of gas from Russia and Azerbaijan to respond to a rising domestic demand.
The continued flow of natural gas from Iran to Turkey comes as Iranian Oil Ministry authorities have reported a historic surge in demand for gas inside the country during the cold winter months.
