Turkey has called on Russia and Ukraine to keep energy infrastructure out of military operations and ensure the continuity of energy supplies, Reuters reports. This was stated by Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar after a series of attacks on commercial ships in the Black Sea.
Ankara has insisted that pipelines and tanker traffic be protected from military strikes, emphasizing the strategic importance of key routes, including that of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC).
The statement by the Turkish authorities comes against the background of attacks by naval drones on tankers heading to Russian ports. Ukraine claimed responsibility for the attacks on two empty tankers, but denied involvement in another incident in which a Russian ship carrying sunflower oil was damaged. Turkey has warned at a NATO meeting that strikes on ships linked to Russia are unacceptable. In response, President Vladimir Putin has threatened to restrict Ukraine’s access to the sea and step up attacks on its infrastructure.
The attacks have already had an impact on the insurance market, with shipping premiums in the region soaring. A Turkish company has temporarily suspended Russia-related activities after an incident involving one of its ships off the coast of Senegal. Meanwhile, the CPC oil pipeline, which carries more than 80% of Kazakhstan’s oil exports and more than 1% of global supplies, was temporarily shut down over the weekend after damage to a terminal near Novorossiysk caused by a Ukrainian drone.
Energy issues were also a focus of recent talks between Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Volodymyr Zelensky in Ankara. Minister Bayraktar confirmed that Ukraine has requested assistance in natural gas supplies, and that the Turkish state-owned company “Botaş“ and the Ukrainian “Naftogaz“ are already discussing possible cooperation mechanisms. He also stressed that Ukraine has significant underground gas storage capacity, which allows for storage during the summer months for the winter season.