Gazprom shifts gas operations to Turkey amid EU exit and sanctions
Gazprom is relocating its operations to Turkey, establishing a new gas hub. The company's employees are learning Turkish and renting apartments in Istanbul. This move follows the exit of service operators from the EU who were managing the Nord Stream and TurkStream pipelines.
The Russian conglomerate Gazprom has opted to create a new gas hub in Turkey. According to reports from "The Moscow Times," the company's employees, who previously managed the Nord Stream and TurkStream pipelines, have departed from the European Union.
Reports suggest that many personnel have moved to Turkey, where Gazprom is planning to expand its operations. Employees are diligently learning Turkish and securing rental apartments in Istanbul, demonstrating the company’s long-term commitment to the region.
The decision to relocate operations to Turkey is linked to the suspension of gas exports to Europe via Ukraine. Gazprom, however, continues to supply gas through the TurkStream pipeline, which traverses the seabed of the Black Sea. Employees, including both Russian and EU nationals, agreed to relocate due to the offer of attractive salaries.
Gazprom under US sanctions
The White House announced on Friday a set of sanctions targeting the largest Russian oil companies and the energy sector. US administration representatives emphasise that these are the toughest sanctions imposed to date and are expected to cost Russia billions of dollars every month.
The sanctioned entities include two of the largest oil companies, Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegaz, but not the largest oil producer, Rosneft. The list also features 183 ships, part of the "shadow fleet" involved in the export of Russian oil, alongside financial and insurance institutions engaged in oil and gas transactions. The restrictions are aimed at halting the purchase of Russian oil and gas from major companies using dollars. The sanctions were introduced in coordination with the United Kingdom, which has also penalised Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegaz.
The United States is taking sweeping action against Russia’s key source of revenue for funding its brutal and illegal war against Ukraine. With today’s actions, we are ratcheting up the sanctions risk associated with Russia’s oil trade, including shipping and financial facilitation in support of Russia’s oil exports, announced Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
