September saw higher gas consumption in Turkey with a 22 percent increase in natural gas imports compared to September 2016 to meet the country's electricity demand, according to Turkish energy watchdog data on Monday.
Turkey's total natural gas imports rose from 3 billion cubic meters (bcm) in September 2016 to 3.68 bcm in September 2017, Turkish Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) announced in its Natural Gas Market Report for September 2017.
Due to the production decline in hydroelectric power plants in September, Turkey increased production in natural gas combined cycle plants.
In September 2017, electricity production facilities consumed 1.77 bcm of natural gas, 115.5 percent more than the previous September.
The country had produced 31.16 percent of its electricity from natural gas in 2016, EMRA's 2016 data revealed.
The Organized Industrial Zones (OSBs) became the second biggest consuming sector with 282 million cubic meters (mcm).
The country imported 3.23 bcm of natural gas via pipeline and 448 mcm through liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, EMRA's data shows.
Turkey's natural gas imports from Russia increased by 14.6 percent to 2.27 bcm in September 2017 compared to 1.98 bcm in September 2016.
The country's natural gas production rose from 24.9 mcm in September 2016 to 27.4 mcm in September 2017, the majority of which came from the northwestern Tekirdag province.
By Muhsin Baris Tiryakioglu
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr