Azerbaijan, Baku, July 10 / Trend A. Taghiyeva /
The Energy Market Regulatory Authority in Turkey (EPDK) has issued a permit to the private sector to import six billion cubic meters of gas from Russia, EPDK said today.
Imports of gas will begin from January 1, 2013 and will be imported via the Western route. The private sector's appeals to the EPDK will be accepted till August 10, 2012.
The firm which will receive an approval from the EPDK on imports of gas, will have to sign an agreement with Russian company Gazprom.
The agreement on imports of Russian gas to Turkey signed earlier by the Turkish company Botas and Russian Gazprom, will be completed in September 2012.
The Energy Ministry and the Energy Market Regulatory Authority in Turkey (EPDK) prepared a bill on June 19 under which the private sector of the country will be able to import natural gas to Turkey.
According to the law, the Turkish private sector will receive a licence to import gas from countries which Turkey already has gas agreements and from those where cooperation in this field has not yet been established.
Private companies which will be engaged in the import of gas will be required to keep 10 per cent of the imported natural gas at the storage facilities in Turkey, particularly at the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) gas storage facility in Silivri.
According to the statistical data of the Turkish state pipeline company Botas, Turkey imported 39.7 billion cubic meters of gas in 2011. Russia ranks first, followed by Iran and Azerbaijan among the exporters of gas to Turkey.