ANKARA, March 23: Russia and Iran are opposed to a Turkish plan to transfer their contracts for selling natural gas to Turkey to the private sector, energy officials said on Wednesday.
Turkey wants to break up the monopoly of state pipeline concern Botas as part of IMF-backed economic reforms. Botas is meant to sell natural gas import and wholesale contracts to transfer 64 per cent of total natural gas consumption.
“First Russia and later Iran stated clearly they do not want to transfer their contracts to the private sector,” one official told Reuters, adding they preferred to deal directly with Botas.—Reuters
