Iran’s gas cut exposes Turkey’s vulnerability to energy risks
Ankara’s energy preparedness for the winter and its capacity to secure alternative supplies have come under question after a halt in the gas flow from Iran sparked an unprecedented energy crunch in the country.
The disruption of Iranian gas supplies to Turkey, blamed on a technical hitch in the pipeline between the two neighbors, has turned into an energy crisis for many industrial enterprises across the country, putting Ankara’s contingency plans and risk management capacity under the spotlight.
After Iran cut the flow Jan. 20, Turkey’s state pipeline operator BOTAS slashed gas supplies to industrial zones by 40%. Supplies to gas-fueled power plants were then halted, followed by a decision to cut electricity supplies to industrial zones for three days. BOTAS announced Jan. 28 that the flow of Iranian gas had resumed in small amounts as a test run and the cut for industrial consumers was reduced to 20% as of Jan. 31. The energy crunch hit production at hundreds of enterprises at a time when Turkey’s industry is already grappling with economic turmoil and skyrocketing gas and electricity prices, raising questions over Ankara’s energy ties with Tehran and its energy policies.
