Turkey’s demand for energy and natural resources has been increasing due to economic and population growth. In recent years, Turkey has recorded the fastest growth in electricity demand among OECD members, with an annual growth rate of 5, 5% since 2002. Turkey’s energy use is expected to increase by 50% over the next decade. Turkey’s installed capacity has exceeded 88 GW as of January 2019, which represents a threefold increase in 15 years.
Two main characteristics of the Turkish energy markets are growing energy
demand and dependency on imports. Turkey, in line with its local and
national energy strategy, is taking necessary steps to reduce this
dependency.
The main elements of our energy strategy can be summarized as follows:
1) Taking into account increasing energy demand and import dependency,
prioritization among energy supply security related activities;
2) Within the context of sustainable development, giving due consideration
to environmental concerns all along the energy chain;
3) Increasing efficiency and productivity, establishing transparent and
competitive market conditions through reform and liberalization;
4) Augmenting research and development on energy technologies.
Through application of these four basic principles, we aim for the
following goals;
1) Diversification of supply routes and sources for imported oil and
natural gas;
2) Increasing the ratio of local and renewable energy in our energy mix;
3) Increasing energy efficiency;
4) Adding nuclear to our energy mix.
Data on Turkey’s energy production, consumption and installed capacity can
be accessed through the following web sites:
http://www.enerji.gov.tr/en-US/Mainpage
- Info Bank
http://www.enerji.gov.tr/en-US/Pages/Electricity
http://www.enerji.gov.tr/en-US/Pages/Petrol
http://www.enerji.gov.tr/en-US/Pages/Natural-Gas
http://www.enerji.gov.tr/en-US/Pages/Coal
Enrichment of the National Energy Mix
Turkey continues its efforts to increase the share of renewable energy
sources in and add the nuclear power to its energy mix for the purpose of
reducing its energy import dependency, maximizing the use of domestic
resources, and combating climate change.
Renewable Energy
As an indication of the importance given to renewable energy, Turkey became
a founding member of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) on
26 January 2009.
Information related to Turkey’s renewable energy potential can be accessed
through the following web sites:
http://www.enerji.gov.tr/en-US/Pages/Hydraulics
http://www.enerji.gov.tr/en-US/Pages/Wind
http://www.enerji.gov.tr/en-US/Pages/Solar
http://www.enerji.gov.tr/en-US/Pages/Geothermal
http://www.enerji.gov.tr/en-US/Pages/Bio-Fuels
Nuclear Energy
Turkey decided to add nuclear power into its electricity generation mix
with the aim of decreasing negative environmental effects of energy
production; of meeting its ever increasing energy demand as well as
reducing its energy import dependency. To this end, construction of two
nuclear power plants (NPPs) in Akkuyu and Sinop are on the agenda.
Akkuyu and Sinop NPPs are Generation III+ plants to be designed and
equipped with the most advanced safety systems. Their safety measures are
in accordance with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards.
Detailed information regarding Turkey’s nuclear energy policy can be
accessed through the following web site:
http://www.enerji.gov.tr/en-US/Pages/Nuclear
TURKEY’S ROLE IN THE REGIONAL ENERGY TRADE
Turkey is geographically located between energy producing countries of its
region with more than 75% of the world’s proven oil and gas reserves and
the well-developed European energy consumer markets. This privileged
natural position provides Turkey with both opportunities and
responsibilities in terms of energy security. Turkey remains convinced of
the need to strengthen this unique role given by its geostrategic location.
In this regard, while developing its energy strategy, Turkey aims to
strengthen its position between East-West and South-North Energy Corridors.
The “East-West” gas pipeline projects which are envisaged to bring gas from
Caspian and the Middle East regions to Europe through Turkey are referred
to as “Southern Gas Corridor” (SGC). South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP),
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum Natural Gas Pipeline (BTE), Turkey-Greece
Interconnector (ITG) are the existing pipelines. Trans Anatolian Pipeline
Project (TANAP) which constitutes the backbone of the Southern Gas Corridor
was inaugurated on 12 June 2018. It is expected that Trans Adriatic
Pipeline Project (TAP) will be completed in 2019 and thus, Azerbaijani gas
will be delivered to Europe in 2020.
OIL AND NATURAL GAS PIPELINES / PROJECTS
A. CRUDE OIL PIPELINES
i.
Kirkuk-Yumurtalık Crude Oil Pipeline (Iraq-Turkey Crude Oil Pipeline)
ii.
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Crude Oil Pipeline (BTC)
Detailed information about oil and natural gas pipelines and projects can
be accessed through the following website:
http://www.enerji.gov.tr/en-US/Pages/Transit-Pipelines-and-Projects
B. NATURAL GAS PIPELINES AND PROJECTS
a. CURRENT PIPELINES
i.
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum Natural Gas Pipeline (BTE)
ii.
Turkey-Greece Interconnector (ITG)
iii.
Western Route (Russia-Turkey Natural Gas Pipeline)
iv.
Blue Stream Natural Gas Pipeline
v.
Iran – Turkey Natural Gas Pipeline
vi.
Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP)
b. NATURAL GAS PIPELINE PROJECTS
i.
TurkStream Project
Detailed information about natural gas pipelines and projects can be
accessed through the following website:
http://www.enerji.gov.tr/en-US/Pages/Natural-Gas-Pipelines-and-Projects
OIL TRANSPORTATION THROUGH TURKISH STRAITS
Turkish Straits play a distinctive role in terms of energy supply security
since 3% of the global oil consumption passes through the Turkish Straits.
Considering the busy traffic as well as the physical structure of the
Straits, a maritime accident to be caused by oil tankers carrying hazardous
material constitutes a huge risk. An accident in the Straits may cause not
only a humanitarian and environmental disaster but also a disruption in the
global oil supply. Alternative oil export options that by-pass the Straits
should therefore be developed.
TURKEY-EU ENERGY RELATIONS
Energy is one of the most important subjects of Turkey-EU relations. As an
indication of the importance given to regional energy cooperation, Turkey,
with its indispensable position on ensuring energy security of Europe,
joined the Energy Community with an observer status in 2006. (Energy
Community, established in 2005, is an international organization aiming to
establish an integrated and competitive energy market among EU members and
non-EU South Eastern European countries as well as other neighboring
countries.)
Within the scope of Turkey’s accession negotiations with the EU, the
screening process of the Energy Chapter was completed in 2007. Work on the
update of the Report on the screening of the Energy Chapter is currently
ongoing by the EU side. Turkey wishes that the Energy Chapter is opened for
negotiations as soon as possible.
Turkey-EU High-Level Energy Dialogue was launched and its first meeting was
held on 16 March 2015 in Ankara. The second High Level Energy Dialogue
Meeting was held on 28 January 2016 in Istanbul. Turkey-EU High Level
Energy Dialogue is expected to continue in the coming period.
LONG TERM AGREEMENT BETWEEN TEİAŞ AND ENTSO-E
Turkish Electricity Transmission Company (TEİAŞ) and the relevant boards of
European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E)
signed a long-term agreement on 15 April 2015 providing for the permanent
physical integration of the Turkish and EU electricity markets. The
integration of the Turkish electricity system and market with those of
Europe has hence been taken to a higher level. An observer membership
agreement was signed by TEİAŞ and ENTSO-E on 14 January 2016 and TEİAŞ
became the first and only observer member of ENTSO-E.