Turkey urged Russia and Ukraine not to attack energy targets

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said Ankara is asking Russia, Ukraine and other parties not to interfere with energy infrastructure in the war and to allow the uninterrupted flow of energy. He said this after a series of attacks on tankers off Turkey's Black Sea coast.

He stressed that routes such as the Caspian Pipeline Consortium must remain secure because a significant portion of the world's oil supply flows through them.

Turkey, as a NATO member, maintains contacts with both Kiev and Moscow and calls attacks on vessels near its waters unacceptable. The incidents have increased risks in Black Sea shipping and contributed to rising insurance prices.

Bayraktar also confirmed that Turkey had discussed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to help secure gas supplies. State-owned BOTAS is working with Ukraine's Naftogaz on ways to use Ukraine's vast underground storage facilities, which allow cheaper storage of energy carriers for the winter period.

(reuters, sie)