Turkey's total natural gas imports decreased by 3.17 percent in July compared to July 2015, according to Turkish energy watchdog data on Friday.
Turkey's total natural gas imports fell from 3.25 billion cubic meter (bcm) in July 2015 to 3.20 bcm in July 2016, Turkish Energy Market Regulatory Authority, EMRA announced in its Natural Gas Market Report for July 2016.
The country imported 2.74 bcm of natural gas via pipelines and 479 million cubic meters (mcm) through liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, EMRA's data shows.
Turkey's natural gas imports from Russia decreased by 10 percent to 1.61 bcm in July 2016 compared to 1.79 bcm in July 2015.
Turkish natural gas production fell from 30 million cubic meters (mcm) in July 2015 to 27.95 mcm in July 2016, the majority of which came from the north-western Tekirdag province.
The highest natural gas consumption was seen in Istanbul, Turkey's most populated city with 358 mcm in July. Izmir the third most populated city and Sakarya followed in second and third place with 338 mcm and 270 mcm respectively.
In July 2016, electricity production facilities consumed 1.39 bcm of natural gas, 53 percent more than the previous July. Organized industrial zones became the second biggest consuming sector with 220 bcm.
Turkey supplies 39.61 percent of its electricity demand through natural gas combined cycle power plants, according to EMRA's 2015 data.
By Muhsin Baris Tiryakioglu
Anadolu Agency
muhsin.tiryakioglu@aa.com.tr