ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey's state gas grid operator BOTAS signed a deal to supply up to 1.5 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas to Romania's OMV Petrom as Ankara expands its gas export reach.
Turkey, with meagre gas sources of its own but with extensive liquefied gas import infrastructure, aims to be an alternate supplier to smaller gas markets in southeastern Europe.
"(The company) is increasing its contribution to the security and diversity of energy supplies in neighbouring markets and in Europe" the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
Gas exports to Romania will begin on Oct. 1, at up to 4 million cubic metres per day, or around 1.5 bcm of gas per year. The agreement runs until the first quarter of 2025.
Turkey also signed supply deals with Bulgaria and Hungary this year.
With the latest deal, the export commitments of BOTAS will reach up to 3.3 bcm, almost the full capacity of the country's northern export route which Ankara says could be doubled with some investment from its European neighbours.