MOSCOW, September 10 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's natural gas monopoly Gazprom [RTS: GAZP] said Monday it has increased gas supplies to Turkey from 20 million to 30 million cubic meters per day after a major explosion on a pipeline bringing gas from Iran halted supplies late Sunday.
"Following yesterday's explosion on the pipeline carrying Iranian gas to Turkey, [state-run energy company] Botas approached Gazprom with a request to increase supplies along the Blue Stream pipeline until the aftermath of the explosion is cleared up," the energy giant said.
The cause of the explosion, which occurred on Turkish territory, is not known at the moment.
Russia is Turkey's largest gas supplier. In 2006, it exported 19.9 billion cubic meters of gas to the country.
Blue Stream, whose total length is 1,213 kilometers (754 miles), carries gas from Russia to Turkey across the Black Sea. By 2010, the pipeline is expected to reach full capacity, pumping 16 billion cubic meters of gas per year.
