Turkey's total natural gas imports increased by 15.9 percent in May compared to May 2016, according to Turkish energy watchdog data on Tuesday.
Turkey's total natural gas imports rose from 3.21 billion cubic meters (bcm) in May 2016 to 3.72 bcm in May 2017, Turkish Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) announced in its Natural Gas Market Report for May 2017.
The country imported 3.26 bcm of natural gas via pipelines and 461 million cubic meters (mcm) through liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, EMRA's data shows.
Turkey's natural gas imports from Russia increased by 2.76 percent to 1.94 bcm in May 2017 compared to 1.89 bcm in May 2016.
The country's natural gas production fell from 30.9 million cubic meters (mcm) in May 2016 to 30.2 mcm in May 2017, the majority of which came from the northwestern Tekirdag province.
In May 2017, electricity production facilities consumed 1.33 bcm of natural gas, 24.8 percent more than the previous May. The Organized Industrial Zones (OSB's) became the second biggest consuming sector with 306 bcm.
Turkey supplies 32.1 percent of its electricity demand through natural gas combined cycle power plants, according to EMRA's 2016 data.
By Muhsin Baris Tiryakioglu
Anadolu Agency
muhsin.tiryakioglu@aa.com.tr