Turkey is set to give state-owned gas importer Botas the authority to buy gas and LNG on the spot market without government approval, increasing the company's freedom of action as winter approaches.
A cabinet decree has been drafted giving Botas power to buy as much as 6bn m³ of spot LNG in 2013, energy minister Taner Yildiz said. Details of the allocation for spot pipeline purchases have not been disclosed.
The change will come into effect following cabinet approval and will allow Botas to respond to shortages more rapidly.
Turkey imports gas by pipeline from Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran and buys LNG from Algeria and Nigeria. Botas and Qatar this year reached a framework accord on possible LNG purchases.
Turkey's gas consumption last year was 44.1bn m³ and is forecast to reach 48.5bn m³ this year, according to the energy regulator EPDK.