Turkey's Plans for Russian Gas Hub Face Delays and Doubts

Turkey's Energy Minister, Alparslan Bayraktar, has expressed doubts about the need for a new natural gas hub proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Turkey already has a well-functioning gas trading platform, and the idea of a gas hub in Turkey raised concerns in the EU and the US. Putin clarified that he was referring to an electronic trading platform rather than physical gas storage. Discussions on the proposal have been paused due to various factors, including an earthquake and presidential elections. Turkey is currently dependent on Russian gas imports, but it is also exploring other options such as nuclear power plants and small modular reactors.