Turkish companies threaten to sue Gazprom over alleged gas supplies cut

"We want this issue to be resolved in line with the contract with Gazprom in the most positive manner as possible. If this is not possible, the addressee to whom the issue will be brought is clear, which is international arbitration," a source in the Turkish energy sector told the media.

It is reported that Gazprom reduced gas supplies to Turkish companies in February. Sources then said the Turkish private sector and Gazprom were in talks over the future of a 10.25% price discount, but the Russian side recently canceled this discount unilaterally, underlining "disagreements over the gas price."

Gazprom Export said on February 25 it was continuing negotiations with gas consumers in Turkey and aimed to maintain stable contractual relations, Russian news agency TASS reported.

"As is the case in our contracts with other gas companies, there is an article stipulating the possibility of going to the arbitration court for unresolved disagreements in our contract with Gazprom Export … If we need to go to arbitration, this is quite normal as arbitration is a civilized and lawful way," said a sector source, adding that all companies cannot apply for arbitration and that separate filings may be the case instead.

The media added that the companies in question import 10 billion cubic meters of gas from Gazprom annually in line with a 2013 contract.