Turkmenistan has temporarily suspended natural gas exports to Turkey, according to an October 24 report by the Chronicles of Turkmenistan, which cited Maksat Babaev, chairman of the state concern Turkmengaz. Babaev made the announcement during a press conference following the Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan 2025 international conference.

Gas deliveries began in March 2025 under a short-term contract for 2 billion cubic meters per year. The project was framed as a pilot initiative to assess technical and logistical challenges.

Murad Archaev, Deputy Chairman of Turkmengaz, stated that the company is fully prepared to resume supplies. “The Turkish side was very pleased with the start of deliveries. We also support it, and once the existing issues are resolved, supplies will continue under the signed contract,” Archaev said, as quoted by MK Turkey.

Babaev added that Turkmenistan has other potential buyers if an agreement on price or volume cannot be reached. “This is the market,” he said, according to Oilcapital, citing Reuters.

As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Turkey began importing Turkmen gas via Iran under a swap agreement, with deliveries totaling about 1.3 billion cubic meters by year-end. In May, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced Ankara’s intention to extend the deal for another five years.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s Ministry of Energy said in October that it seeks to increase gas imports from Turkmenistan via the Caspian Sea. The ministry emphasized that the Turkish market could serve as a gateway for Turkmen gas to reach other countries, including European Union members.

Earlier this year, both sides hailed the launch of deliveries as a milestone in regional energy cooperation.