Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yıldız announced on Friday that they have agreed on a 10.25 percent discount with Russia. Speaking at the eighth sector meeting of Electric Distribution Services Association, Yıldız stated that within the last three months, the difference in lira-dollar parity was around 12.6 percent, meaning that the increase in foreign exchange rates is higher than the discount amount yet, such will not be reflected to the industrialists and citizens. Turkey and Russia have been holding talks for a further discount on natural gas since December 2014. During Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Ankara, it was announced that a 6 percent discount will be implemented to current natural gas price.When compared with December 2013, the dollar parity has increased by 26 percent and by 12.6 percent when compared to December 2014, while the discount rate agreed on with Gazprom is only 10.25 percent. Yıldız further announced that the private sector shall be capable of selling the natural gas it purchased from Russia freely within Turkey. Yıldız noted that at this point the natural gas prices are at the same level as they were in November 2008 and Turkey currently sells the cheapest natural gas to 28 European countries' citizens and also industry. "BOTAŞ will recover its loss with this discount and will pay its debts to the Treasury, customs and internal revenue office," said Yıldız before adding that depending on the outcome of the arbitration case files against Iran, BOTAŞ will have a high level of cash flow. He also announced that Russia was against BOTAŞ's privatization.On whether the capacity of the Blue Stream pipeline from Russia will be increased by 3 billion meter cubes, Yıldız said that 2 billion out of the 3 billion shall be received from the Turkish Stream being planned to be built and 1 billion from the Blue Stream.After the decision of Energy Market Regulation Board (EPDK) to put a price cap to fuel oil and diesel oil, the Turkish Fuel Oil Retailers Petroleum and Natural Gas Companies Employer's Union (TABGİS) had filed a lawsuit. Yıldız said the discussions between EPDK and TABGİS will be completed without a lawsuit and the matter will also be discussed with the Prime Minister and sector representatives. On some municipalities located in the South Easter Region of Turkey not being able to pay their debts to energy distribution companies, Yıldız said that the Batman Municipality has paid its debt of TL 42 million by a bank loan and the municipalities will be able to pay their debts in installments over 36 months among other facility of payments. He also noted that with the foundation of Energy Markets Business Corporation (EPİAŞ), a price mechanism that both consumers and producers will benefit from shall be built.