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Moscow is eager to deepen its long-term natural gas cooperation with Türkiye by expanding gas supply, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak said on Saturday, describing the current progress as promising.
“We look forward to continuing our long-term cooperation on natural gas supply and are ready to expand this partnership,” Novak told Anadolu Agency following the signing of the new intergovernmental protocol during the 19th meeting of the Türkiye-Russia Joint Economic Commission in Moscow. “We are making good progress in this direction.”
Emphasizing the strength of bilateral energy ties, he said the two countries are implementing large-scale projects that serve both domestic and European markets.
Citing the ongoing operations of the TurkStream and Blue Stream pipelines, Novak underscored the strategic role these projects play in regional energy security. “TurkStream consists of two lines—one supplies the Turkish domestic market, and the other delivers gas to Europe. These projects are operating successfully,” he stated.
The TurkStream pipeline has a total capacity of 31.5 billion cubic meters (bcm) and runs from Russia through the Black Sea to Türkiye. It is designed to supply gas not only to Türkiye but also to countries in southern and southeastern Europe. Russia’s natural gas exports via TurkStream to Europe reached a record high of over 50 million cubic meters (mcm) per day, according to recent data.
On the domestic side, natural gas inflow to Türkiye’s gas network reached 56.39 bcm in 2024, representing a 9.5% year-on-year increase, based on official figures from the Turkish Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS). These figures highlight the growing importance of TurkStream in meeting both regional and domestic energy demands.
On nuclear energy, Novak reiterated the importance of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, which is being built by Russia’s state-owned nuclear company Rosatom. “This is our flagship project in the energy sector,” he said. “For Türkiye, it is the first nuclear power plant, and a chance to gain expertise and train personnel for a major, multi-billion-dollar venture.”
He noted that construction is proceeding on schedule and predicted that the first reactor unit would be commissioned within a year. Discussions are also underway regarding the feasibility of building a second nuclear plant in Türkiye. “We would be very pleased to take part in this project as well,” Novak added.
Novak highlighted that Türkiye remains one of Russia’s most reliable partners in an increasingly unstable global environment. “Despite turbulence in the world, Türkiye is a friendly partner to Russia,” he said.
He reported that bilateral trade approached $60 billion in 2023, a 6.7% increase from the previous year. Presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan have jointly set a target of reaching $100 billion in trade volume, and Novak said efforts are ongoing to reach that goal.
Beyond energy, Novak pointed to active cooperation in tourism, industry, agriculture, and transportation. He noted that more than 6 million Russian tourists visited Türkiye last year and said the figure is expected to rise further this year. “We are working together to ensure safety and streamline payments for Russian tourists in Türkiye,” he added.
Novak also stressed the need to eliminate administrative barriers to trade and investment. “We are coordinating closely through governments and institutions,” he said, referring to discussions with Türkiye’s Minister of Trade Omer Bolat during the commission meeting.
He concluded by framing Türkiye as an essential partner in Russia’s vision of economic cooperation: “Russia is in favor of stability, cooperation, and continued trade relations. We are strengthening our partnerships with friendly countries, including Türkiye.”
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