EU urges Türkiye to supply non-Russian gas despite traceability challenges

The European Union has asked Türkiye to ensure that gas supplied to Europe does not originate from Russia, even as identifying the source of gas flowing through pipelines remains крайне difficult, Türkiye’s energy minister said.

Speaking to AHaber television, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said European officials had approached Ankara with requests for non-Russian gas supplies amid ongoing shortages across the continent.

“Europeans come to us and ask us to supply any gas except Russian. But the point is that the source of any gas entering the pipeline is unknown,” Bayraktar said.

His remarks highlight the technical and logistical challenges of tracing the origin of natural gas once it enters interconnected pipeline systems, where supplies from multiple sources can be blended.

Bayraktar added that European countries are facing significant economic and infrastructure pressures following their decision to halt imports of Russian gas. He said the difficulties stem in part from policy choices driven by geopolitical considerations.

The comments come as Europe continues to seek alternative energy sources and diversify supply routes in response to reduced Russian gas imports, a shift that has strained energy markets and infrastructure across the region.

By Tamilla Hasanova