Russia’s state-owned energy giant Gazprom has dropped plans to develop a major natural gas hub in Turkey, effectively shelving a proposal once touted as a key alternative for restoring Russian gas flows to Europe after the disruption of the Nord Stream pipelines.
The decision, first reported by Bloomberg, was attributed to a combination of technical limitations, political disagreements, and commercial obstacles. Sources familiar with the matter said that limited pipeline capacity from Turkey into the European Union, unresolved disputes over marketing rights, and the EU’s continuing push to phase out Russian gas by 2027 made the project unfeasible.
The proposed hub, publicly announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin in October 2022, was designed to reroute up to 55 billion cubic meters of gas annually through Turkey following the sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines. The Kremlin framed the initiative as part of a broader strategy to retain influence in Europe’s energy market despite mounting Western sanctions and supply disruptions.
While the plan initially received a warm reception from some Turkish officials, momentum stalled over time. Gazprom reportedly grew uneasy as Ankara sought to control pricing and sales through the hub, potentially curbing Moscow’s influence over regional energy markets. Additionally, Turkey lacks the necessary infrastructure to export significant gas volumes into Europe, particularly through neighboring Greece and Bulgaria.
According to the report, the Turkish hub concept was met with skepticism within Gazprom from the outset, with internal discussions now largely halted. Although the project has been shelved, existing gas trade between Russia and Turkey remains unaffected. Turkey continues to be one of Gazprom’s largest clients, with long-term contracts still in place.
Officials from Turkey’s Energy Ministry and the state pipeline operator BOTAŞ declined to comment. However, a Turkish government source told Bloomberg that Ankara remains open to future cooperation should conditions change, although discussions have been dormant for some time.
The move marks a significant shift in Russia’s post-Ukraine invasion energy strategy and highlights the growing difficulty Moscow faces in maintaining its energy foothold in Europe.
