July saw higher gas consumption in meeting Turkey's electricity demand with a 28.4 percent increase in natural gas imports compared to July 2016, according to Turkish energy watchdog data on Monday.
Turkey's total natural gas imports rose from 3.22 billion cubic meters (bcm) in July 2016 to 4.13 bcm in July 2017, Turkish Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) announced in its Natural Gas Market Report for July 2017.
Due to the heat wave in July 2017, Turkey hit historic high electricity consumption records. In July 2017, electricity production facilities consumed 2 bcm of natural gas, 43.9 percent more than the previous July.
The country 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 299 bcm.
The country imported 3.73 bcm of natural gas via pipelines and 396 million cubic meters (mcm) through liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, EMRA's data shows.
Turkey's natural gas imports from Russia increased by 42.8 percent to 2.30 bcm in July 2017 compared to 1.61 bcm in July 2016.
The country's natural gas production rose from 27.9 million cubic meters (mcm) in July 2016 to 28.4 mcm in July 2017, the majority of which came from the northwestern Tekirdag province.
By Muhsin Baris Tiryakioglu
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr