Gas hub
At the end of last year, Turkey concluded about 10 agreements, securing short- and medium-term supplies for more than just its own needs. Turkey continues to increase supplies and also aims to become a regional supply center for the gas and LNG market as Europe plans to phase out these energy sources from Russia.
To this end, Turkey is actively developing its natural gas and LNG transportation infrastructure, aiming to become a link between producers (Russia, Qatar, Iran) and Europe.
In terms of pipeline gas supplies, Russia’s Gazprom has increased supplies through Turkish Stream (by 7% in the first months of 2026), ensuring a steady flow of gas through Turkey to Southeast Europe. LNG infrastructure is also developing: Turkey is increasing its LNG import capacity, which allows redirecting some volumes to European consumers in need of diversification.
Contracts have been signed to supply gas to countries that do not have a direct border with Turkey, such as Hungary. Supplies via Turkey help European countries to fill underground gas storage facilities (UGS) ahead of the winter season, ensuring energy security in the region.
Turkish gas in Moldova
The Moldovan government has long considered Turkish gas as one of the key options for diversifying supplies. In September 2023, the Turkish state-owned company BOTAŞ signed an agreement with the Moldovan company East Gas Energy Trading to supply 2 million cubic meters of gas per day. Deliveries started on October 1, 2023 and continue, providing diversification of gas sources for Moldova.
On April 1, 2026, Moldova switched to market-based gas prices for large non-domestic consumers, opening up more opportunities for imports, including Turkey.
“Moldova is entering an EU-integrated energy future,” said Artur Lorkovski, Director of the Energy Community Secretariat. – Opening the gas market to large consumers turns integration with the EU into competition between suppliers, while ensuring that market reforms are implemented in a way that protects vulnerable households.”
Gas from Turkey to Moldova flows through physical and virtual routes. The main route is the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline. In April 2026, ANRE extended the routes on this pipeline until September 30, 2026. It allows gas to be pumped in reverse mode (from south to north) from Turkey through Bulgaria and Romania to Moldova.
Traders have questioned the southern branch
“In the south, the situation with the Turkish Stream pipeline is a big question,” a European trader said, commenting on the uncertainty over flows through the pipeline as contracted deliveries end this year. – “We are monitoring it to see if flows will continue … They are getting less Iranian volumes and more Russian.
Recent demand growth has also been driven by pipeline disruptions from Iran. Turkey’s domestic gas demand is between 50 and 60 billion cubic meters a year, according to traders. With LNG imports of nearly 17 billion cubic meters in 2025, Turkey also imports gas from Iran, Russia and Azerbaijan. Turkey is highly dependent on imports to meet this need, as domestic production accounts for only 4% of demand.
Its geographical location makes it an attractive location for gas imports as its proximity to major gas producers such as Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran provides significant pipeline imports to meet demand.
Gas reserves in Europe
According to Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), as of May 5, 2026, the EU’s underground gas storage facilities (UGS) were 34.07% full, holding 36.37 billion m3 of gas. Over the day, the level of UGS filling increased by 0.28 p.p., the day before – by 0.35 p.p..
All EU countries except Belgium (withdrawal), Sweden and Portugal (zero dynamics) were pumping gas. In Germany UGS facilities were filled by 27.16%, in France – by 34.54%, in Austria – by 40.35%, in Italy – by 51.27% (previously these were Gazprom’s largest markets in Europe).
The season of gas withdrawal from UGS facilities in the EU ended on March 31, 2026. At that time the underground storage facilities were 27.66% full, with 29.64 billion m3 of gas in them. During the withdrawal period, 58.19 billion m3 of gas was extracted from European UGS facilities. Since the start of injection, 6.73 billion m3 of gas has been replenished.
Betting on LNG
“Due to geopolitical tensions, price volatility and supply disruptions from pipeline gas suppliers, LNG has moved from being a backup source to a critical element of diversification strategies,” said analysts at CERA Prognostics. – We forecast LNG demand to nearly double to 19 million tons per year by 2050, driven by the loss of pipeline supply contracts and the growing export needs of neighboring markets … Turkey is leveraging its geographic advantages and diversified LNG portfolio to supply gas to EU markets.”
According to S&P Global Energy CERA, domestically, Turkey imported 6.90 million tons of LNG in 2026. By comparison, imports were 6.57 million tons in the same period last year and 4.41 million tons in 2024 (January 1 to May 6).
Turkey imported a total of 12.38 million tons of LNG in 2025 and 9.17 million tons in 2024, up 35% from a year earlier.
Alongside this, Turkey has invested in its import infrastructure to strengthen its role as a key transit hub for Europe, using LNG as a source of flexible supply to meet seasons of high demand, and as a way to reduce dependence on pipeline imports.
Gas market activation
Turkey renewed its contract with Russia to import about 21.75 billion cubic meters of gas per year through the Turkish Stream and Blue Stream pipelines. At the same time, traders said Turkey is currently negotiating the extension of a contract with Iran to import 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year, which expires in July. Turkey also imports about 6 billion cubic meters of pipeline gas from Azerbaijan.
“I think Turkey’s role is key,” a European gas trader said.
Turkey is increasingly acting as Europe’s regional gas gateway. In addition to import agreements, the country has also signed deals to become a regional supplier of gas and LNG to the rest of Europe.
Most recently, DEPA won Bulgargaz’s tender to supply 1 terawatt-hour of LNG for regasification at the Turkish port of Marmara in the summer of 2026 and delivery to Bulgaria.
Turkey imports gas from Azerbaijan, while Russia and Iran also have the option to re-export LNG imports and volumes through the pipeline. The Russian-Turkish gas pipeline Turkish Stream runs from Russia to Turkey and then to Europe via Serbia and Bulgaria. Turkey also redirects gas volumes from Turkish Stream to Slovakia.
The flows from Turkey to Bulgaria can supply Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
Turkey also exports gas through pipelines to Moldova and has the capacity to export gas to Greece through the Southern Gas Corridor. Through the Turkish Stream and TANAP pipelines, Turkey transports Russian and Azeri gas to Southeastern Europe, demonstrating a strong commitment to expanding the Southern Gas Corridor.
The infrastructure is already in place to double gas exports to Europe
Given the expected growth in domestic demand and Turkey’s desire to re-export volumes to Europe, traders forecast further demand growth over the next few years.
CERA forecasts Turkey’s LNG imports at 16.6 billion cubic meters in 2026, rising to 17.95 billion cubic meters in 2027 and peaking at 18.88 billion cubic meters in 2028.
“Turkey can become a source of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US, Algeria, Russia, Nigeria, Azerbaijan and other countries, creating a single market for sales to Europe,” the LNG trader said. -The price of regasified LNG, which would then be transported through Turkey to the rest of Europe, would be high, but it would ensure a stable supply.”
