Turkey complains Russian gas too expensive in possible discount bid

Turkey plans to reduce its reliance on Russian gas because it says the price is too high, rather than for political reasons, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said. The shift towards US gas could also strengthen Ankara’s hand in seeking a discount from Moscow, while leaving it free to buy from both countries.

The price Turkey pays for Russian gas is not public, so Bayraktar’s claim cannot be verified. Russia may face added pressure to offer lower prices when EU rules banning its pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas imports take effect in 2027. Turkey remains heavily tied to Russian energy: gas made up over a quarter of its energy supply in 2024, Russia supplied over half its oil imports that year and has been its largest coal supplier since 2022.