--- title: "Ahead of EU Ban on Russian LNG, Turkey Steps Up Talks with Novatek to Redirect Yamal Supplies" description: "Ahead of the EU ban on Russian LNG, Turkey is stepping up talks with Novatek to redirect Yamal supplies to its market and explore potential winter arbitrage." date: 2026-10-17T06:52:48.203Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/turkey-novatek-yamal-lng tags: [turkey, novatek, yamal-lng, russia, energy, lng, eu-sanctions] author: "Andrey Kosynko" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Ahead of EU Ban on Russian LNG, Turkey Steps Up Talks with Novatek to Redirect Yamal Supplies ![Industrial LNG storage tanks of the Yamal LNG project in a snowy area in the Arctic zone](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/17/turciya-novatex-yamal-spg/turciya-novatex-yamal-spg-1.webp) ## Key Points - Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar held talks with Novatek head Leonid Mikhelson at REW regarding LNG partnership. - In the first 7 months of this year, Yamal LNG supplied a record 9.8 million tons (13.5 billion cubic meters) of gas to the EU, which could be redirected to Turkey after the EU ban takes effect on January 1. - Turkey's two contracts with Gazprom for 22 billion cubic meters expire at the end of the year; experts point to the possibility of winter arbitrage through the Turkish hub. A large-scale redistribution of flows is beginning on the international energy market ahead of the European Union's total ban on imports of liquefied natural gas from Russia, which enters into force on January 1. The central event of this restructuring was a meeting at Russian Energy Week, where Turkey's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar held talks with Novatek CEO Leonid Mikhelson, the company that is the primary owner of the Yamal LNG project. According to experts, the record volumes of gas being abandoned by Europe can now be redirected to the logistically convenient Turkish market, turning Ankara into one of the key beneficiaries of the sanctions restrictions. ### Talks at REW: LNG and Energy Security The Turkish Minister of Energy outlined the main goals of the meeting with Novatek's leadership in an official publication. The parties discussed in detail the possibilities for partnership in the liquefied gas sector, new supply routes, and structural changes in the global market. Bayraktar emphasized that Turkey "will continue to take strategic steps that will increase the country's energy diversity and strengthen supply security." Thus, Ankara is signaling an interest in long-term cooperation rather than a one-off purchase. ### Record Volumes and a New Route Until now, Yamal LNG has remained Russia's largest gas project, supplying products to Europe without hindrance. In the first seven months of this year, the volume of supplies to EU countries reached a record level of 9.8 million tons, equivalent to 13.5 billion cubic meters of gas. After the restrictions take effect on January 1, these volumes could be redirected to Turkey, the transport route to which is significantly shorter and cheaper than to Asia. At the same time, European companies are allowed to resell (re-export) Yamal gas to other states under long-term contracts until July 2027, creating an additional channel for fuel movement. ### Competition with Gazprom and Winter Arbitrage Turkey's rapprochement with Novatek could create serious competition for the traditional pipeline gas supplier, Gazprom. On the same day, Alparslan Bayraktar also held talks with Gazprom Management Committee Chairman Alexei Miller, discussing partnership in the natural gas sector. The delicacy of the situation lies in the fact that the validity periods of two major contracts for 22 billion cubic meters between Turkey and Gazprom expire right at the end of this year, and no new agreements have been announced yet. Experts from the National Energy Security Fund note that Turkey can advantageously take advantage of this winter's unusually high prices: there is a high probability of making significant profits by receiving cheaper Russian LNG and reselling freed-up gas volumes from other sources to Europe at a higher price — the so-called winter arbitrage. ### Circuitous Routes for Russian Gas The combination of these factors indicates that the European Union's new sanctions will not be able to completely stop Russian gas. On the contrary, they may return it to the global market via circuitous routes through major hubs such as Turkey, which acts simultaneously as a consumer and a potential transit country. For Moscow, this opens up an opportunity to maintain export revenues from LNG, for Ankara — to strengthen its position on the region's energy map, and for Europe — to face a more complex and expensive supply structure during the winter period. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Стратегический ход Турции: Анкара присматривается к российскому СПГ проекта «Ямал СПГ» – Zamin.uz, 16.10.2026](https://zamin.uz/ru/mir/224704-strategicheskiy-khod-turtsii-ankara-prismatrivaetsya-k-rossiyskomu-spg-proekta-yamal-spg.html) - The source reports statements by Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar regarding talks with Novatek and Gazprom at REW, record Yamal LNG supply volumes to the EU (9.8 million tons / 13.5 billion cubic meters over 7 months), re-export timelines until July 2027, the expiration of 22 billion cubic meter contracts, and FNES assessment of winter arbitrage. ## FAQ ### When does the EU ban on Russian LNG take effect? On January 1. Meanwhile, European companies are allowed to re-export Yamal gas under long-term contracts until July 2027. ### How much gas did Yamal LNG supply to the EU this year? In the first seven months of this year — 9.8 million tons, which equals 13.5 billion cubic meters of gas. ### Why is Turkey interested in Yamal LNG? The transport route to Turkey is shorter and cheaper than to Asia, and high winter prices make it possible to profit from arbitrage: buying cheaper Russian LNG and reselling freed-up volumes to Europe at a higher price.