Turkey Becomes a Key Gas Supply Hub for Europe

Turkey is rapidly advancing toward becoming a major center for energy supplies to Europe, the country’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, has said.

“Turkey, which currently consumes 60 billion cubic meters of gas, has infrastructure capable of handling up to 80 billion cubic meters per year. This creates opportunities for gas exports and trade, turning the country into an important supplier for Europe.”

— Alparslan Bayraktar, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

The minister also noted that Turkey is responding to a request from Romania to supply 1 billion cubic meters of gas annually. “At present, we can supply gas to Syria and Nakhchivan. We export gas to Europe via Bulgaria,” he added, emphasizing that Russia remains a reliable gas supplier for Turkey.

Current Import Infrastructure & Scale

According to Bayraktar, Turkey imports gas through 14 routes, including major pipelines from:

Russia
Azerbaijan
Iran

Background: The Gas Hub Proposal

The idea of establishing a major gas hub in Turkey was proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in October 2022, following the loss of volumes through the Nord Stream pipeline. The strategic aim was to redirect and manage gas flows to Europe through an alternative, stable route.

Project Status & Future Plans

Turkish authorities have confirmed that the country’s existing infrastructure is almost ready for the hub project. Concrete plans are actively underway to:

Open a dedicated gas trading center in Istanbul.
Establish its own, independent gas pricing index.

This would position Istanbul not just as a transit point, but as a leading financial and trading hub for natural gas in the region.

Key Capacity & Export Facts

Current Annual Consumption: 60 billion cubic meters
Infrastructure Capacity: 80 billion cubic meters per year
New Export Agreement: Supplying 1 bcm annually to Romania (under discussion)
Current Export Routes: Bulgaria (to Europe), Syria, Nakhchivan

Geopolitical Note: The development of Turkey as an energy hub significantly alters the landscape of European energy security and supply diversification, reducing dependence on traditional single routes.