"These private companies paid for gas deliveries in January 2016 on the basis of their own calculations of a discount. The invoice produced by `Gazprom Export` was higher than the amount paid, so the daily volume of Russian gas to the companies was reduced," Alexey Grivach, Deputy General Director of Gas Projects at Russia`s National Energy Security Fund explained.
According to information from Bulgartransgaz, a Bulgarian operator of natural gas transmission and storage which operates a western route for gas supplies to Turkey, the amount supplied to Turkey began to drop on February 10, when the volume of gas fell by ten percent in comparison with a year earlier.
The western route operated by the Bulgarian company helps to deliver about half of the gas Russia supplies to Turkey, and Gazprom supplies the other half directly to Turkey.
On February 24, the amount of gas delivered from Russia by Bulgartransgaz was 26.7 cubic meters, which is 40 percent less than one year ago.
While recent warmer weather in Turkey is one reason for the reduction, the main factor is said to be Gazprom`s decision to cancel the 10.25 percent discount it was previously giving to six Turkish importers of gas, Bosphorus Gaz, Enerco Enerji, Bati Hatti, Kibar Enerji, Avrasya Gaz and Shell Enerji.
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