Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said on Friday Turkey was seeking a re-export clause in its contract to import Russian natural gas.
The Turkish government wants the right to re-export the fuel in its current contract to import an annual 6 billion cubic metres (bcm) of Russian gas from a western trans-Balkan pipeline, Yildiz told reporters.
"The right to re-export has to do with selling the gas we buy to another country ... which is a right we don't have in our Russian contract, so it will be among our proposals," he said.
"We are especially seeking such (a clause) in our agreement with Russia that expires in 2011."
Turkey, which has little hydrocarbon reserves of its own, has said it aims to exploit its geographical position and become a transit hub for oil and gas between energy-rich suppliers in the East and markets in the West.
It is a partner in the $11 billion Nabucco pipeline project, which will ship some 30 bcm of gas from Iraq, Egypt, Iran, Azerbaijan and possibly Russia and Turkmenistan to Europe after it opens in 2013.
Russia is Turkey's biggest supplier of natural gas, sending about 23 bcm each year on two pipelines. Iran and Azerbaijan also sell gas to Turkey.
Turkey has a contractual right to re-export gas it imports from Azerbaijan and it sells that fuel to Greece.
The Turkish government wants the right to re-export the fuel in its current contract to import an annual 6 billion cubic metres (bcm) of Russian gas from a western trans-Balkan pipeline, Yildiz told reporters.
"The right to re-export has to do with selling the gas we buy to another country ... which is a right we don't have in our Russian contract, so it will be among our proposals," he said.
"We are especially seeking such (a clause) in our agreement with Russia that expires in 2011."
Turkey, which has little hydrocarbon reserves of its own, has said it aims to exploit its geographical position and become a transit hub for oil and gas between energy-rich suppliers in the East and markets in the West.
It is a partner in the $11 billion Nabucco pipeline project, which will ship some 30 bcm of gas from Iraq, Egypt, Iran, Azerbaijan and possibly Russia and Turkmenistan to Europe after it opens in 2013.
Russia is Turkey's biggest supplier of natural gas, sending about 23 bcm each year on two pipelines. Iran and Azerbaijan also sell gas to Turkey.
Turkey has a contractual right to re-export gas it imports from Azerbaijan and it sells that fuel to Greece.