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ISTANBUL: Turkey warned Russia and Ukraine against targeting energy infrastructure following several Black Sea drone attacks claimed by Kyiv on Russia-linked tankers, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said.<\/strong><\/p>\n Speaking to a small group of journalists in Istanbul on Wednesday, Bayraktar said any disruption would hit global markets and people\u2019s lives, noting that energy facilities had already been struck in both countries.<\/p>\n \u201cWe tell all the parties, in Russia and Ukraine: keep the energy infrastructures out of this war, because this is very much linked to people\u2019s daily lives,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Last Friday, two empty oil tankers were hit by explosions off Turkey\u2019s Black Sea coast, at least one of which was on its way to a Russian port. A Ukrainian security source told AFP its forces had used naval drones to hit the vessels which were \u201ccovertly transporting Russian oil\u201d.<\/p>\n A third tanker was struck on Tuesday enroute from Russia to Georgia, with Russia saying it had also been hit by the drone \u2014 but this time, Ukraine denied any involvement.<\/p>\n Bayraktar said energy facilities had been repeatedly targeted throughout the conflict.<\/p>\n \u201cWe also know that Ukraine\u2019s energy infrastructure was a main target, and vice versa with Ukraine attacking some energy facilities in Russia,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He said Turkey wanted energy infrastructure to remain \u201cout of this conflict,\u201d adding: \u201cWe need to keep energy flows uninterrupted in the Black Sea, in our straits, as well as through the pipelines.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Security of supply\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n Washington has pressured allies including Turkey to cut oil and gas imports from Russia.<\/p>\n At their White House meeting in September, President Donald Trump acknowledged Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan\u2019s influence over Russian President Vladimir Putin, but added: \u201cThe best thing he could do is not buy oil and gas from Russia.\u201d<\/p>\n Bayraktar said Ankara had been transparent with Washington about its supply needs and long-term contracts.<\/p>\n Turkey began using natural gas in the late 1980s, and since then, Russia had been \u201ca very reliable supplier\u201d, Bayraktar explained, saying in \u201csome years their market share was 60 percent. Last year it was around 40 percent.\u201d<\/p>\n But he emphasised the need for a diversified supply portfolio, saying Turkey \u201cdid not want to rely on one single country or company for a very high volume.<\/p>\n \u201cSecurity of supply is our number one priority.\u201d<\/p>\n Ankara had shared its supply needs \u201cvery openly and transparently\u201d with its counterparts in Washington and elsewhere.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need gas from Russia, we need gas from Iran, we need gas from Azerbaijan and plenty of other sources,\u201d Bayraktar said.<\/p>\n Ankara and Moscow have been in talks to extend the gas contract that expires on December 31, with Gazprom expected to continue deliveries next year, he said.<\/p>\n Bayraktar said Turkey is now focusing on short-term contract extensions and renewals.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I say short term, I mean one year. But we are looking for cheap, competitive and secure gas supply for the Turkish market,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n