Turkmen state company Turkmengaz has announced a temporary suspension of natural gas exports to Turkey, according to Deputy Chairman of the concern Murat Archayev, Eurasiatoday reported, citing Turkmenportal.
Archayev stated that the decision is linked to the need to address “a number of issues,” although technically, the company remains fully capable of fulfilling its contractual obligations.
Gas exports to Turkey began in March 2025 under a contract allowing for deliveries of up to 2 billion cubic meters per year. The exact reasons for the suspension have not yet been specified.
For Turkey, this development may serve as a reminder of the risks associated with alternative gas supply routes. For Turkmenistan, it highlights a strategy in which exports remain sensitive to both internal and external factors — including payment reliability and transit conditions.
Possible reasons cited include technical or financial issues related to transit through Iran, as well as Ashgabat’s increased scrutiny of the deal’s terms.
Turkmen gas is transported to Turkey through Iran via existing pipelines, a route of strategic importance as it allows Turkmenistan to diversify its exports beyond traditional Central Asian markets.
The gas supply agreement between Turkmenistan and Turkey was signed on February 11, 2025, with deliveries commencing on March 1.
Turkmenistan has long sought new export routes to reduce dependence on a single buyer and to expand its access to global energy markets.
The temporary suspension of Turkmen gas deliveries to Turkey underscores the fragility of emerging energy export routes.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
October 30, 2025