Slovakia’s Fico Seeks Help From Turkey to Secure Russian Gas

(Bloomberg) -- Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico discussed the potential for securing Russian gas through Turkey with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who pledged Ankara’s help in finding a solution with Moscow.

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The Slovak leader is seeking an alternative to Russian gas flows via Ukraine that were halted in the beginning of the year. Slovakia’s state gas utility, Slovensky Plynarensky Priemysel AS, is one of the few remaining entities in Central Europe with a long-term contract with Russia’s Gazprom PJSC.

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Turkey expressed the willingness to negotiate with Slovakia and Russia to find a solution. “Let’s take a step,” Erdogan said during a joint press conference in Ankara on Monday, adding that the Turkish foreign minister would reach out to Russia’s, while he would speak with President Vladimir Putin. “Let’s reach a conclusion on Slovakia’s natural gas needs.”

Fico believes that an alternative solution could be found to bring Russian gas to Slovakia via the TurkStream pipeline, on to Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary. He didn’t provide details on the potential solution or gas volumes.

“Russian partners need to get involved and confirm if they are prepared to increase the volume of this gas to reach Slovak territory,” Fico said during the press conference.

The Slovak economy minister will travel to Turkey to discuss the matter further next week, Fico added.

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