Turkey's total natural gas imports decreased by 3.6 percent in May compared to May 2015, according to Turkish energy watchdog data on Wednesday.
Turkey's total natural gas imports fell from 3.33 billion cubic meter (bcm) in May 2015 to 3.21 bcm in May 2016, Turkish Energy Market Regulatory Authority, EMRA announced in its Natural Gas Market Report for May 2016.
The country imported 2.89 bcm of natural gas via pipelines and 325 million cubic meters (mcm) through liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, EMRA's data shows.
Turkey's natural gas imports from Russia increased by 3.17 percent from 1.89 bcm in May 2016 compared to 1.83 bcm in May 2015.
Turkish natural gas production fell from 33.5 million cubic meters (mcm) in May 2015 to 30.9 mcm in May 2016, the majority of which came from the north-western Tekirdag province.
The highest natural gas consumption was seen in Izmir, Turkey's third most populated city with 352 mcm in May. Istanbul the most populated city and Turkish capital Ankara followed in second and third place with 317 mcm and 218 mcm respectively.
In May 2016, electricity production facilities consumed 1.06 bcm of natural gas, 11.3 percent more than the previous May. The Organized Industrial Zones (OSB's) became the second biggest consuming sector with 274 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